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Esther González Faces Backlash After Surprise Move to Al Qadsiah

Posted : 27 August 2026

Spain international Esther González has come under criticism after joining Saudi Women’s Premier League club Al Qadsiah, just weeks after leaving NWSL champions Gotham FC. The 33-year-old agreed to terminate her Gotham contract by mutual consent in July, with the club saying she was stepping away from football to deal with personal matters in Spain.

González’s move to Al Qadsiah, announced on August 23, came sooner than many expected and prompted questions from Gotham supporters about the circumstances surrounding her departure. The Spanish forward had been under contract through 2027 and left Gotham as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 33 goals across NWSL competitions.

Her new destination has also drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ supporters because same-sex relationships are criminalised in Saudi Arabia. González has a wife, Estefanía Cruz, and the couple welcomed their first child in January. Reports from Spanish media that she removed photographs featuring her wife and child from social media after the transfer have added further attention to the move, although González has not publicly explained those changes.

The transfer marks a major addition for Al Qadsiah, who finished fourth in the Saudi Women’s Premier League last season. González arrives with considerable experience, having represented Spain more than 50 times and been part of the squad that won the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Before her move to Saudi Arabia, González enjoyed a highly successful spell with Gotham. She helped the club win two NWSL championships, the NWSL Challenge Cup and the Concacaf W Champions Cup, while also finishing as a finalist for the 2025 NWSL MVP award.

González is not the first prominent footballer to face criticism after moving to Saudi Arabia. England midfielder Jordan Henderson was similarly criticised after joining Al-Ettifaq in 2023, particularly because of his previous public support for LGBTQ+ causes.
 

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