Esther Gonzalez Signs for Al Qadsiah After Gotham FC Exit

Spain forward Esther Gonzalez has signed for Saudi Women’s Premier League club Al Qadsiah, weeks after ending her contract with National Women’s Soccer League champion Gotham FC. BBC Sport reports that Sunday’s announcement prompted criticism from some Gotham supporters and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Gotham said in July that the 33-year-old and the club had mutually terminated a deal that was due to run until 2027. The club’s announcement said Gonzalez was stepping away from football temporarily to attend to personal matters in Spain. Gonzalez also described her departure on Instagram as a decision made for personal reasons and expressed affection for the New York-based team.

Al Qadsiah then confirmed Gonzalez as a new signing on Sunday. According to the BBC, some Gotham fans questioned the way her exit had been presented and expressed disappointment that the club did not receive a transfer fee. The report said other social-media reactions focused on her decision to move to Saudi Arabia and concerns about her safety.

The criticism from LGBTQ+ supporters comes in the context of Saudi law, where same-sex relationships and sexual activity are illegal. Gonzalez is married to a woman, and the couple had their first child in January. BBC Sport said it had contacted Gotham FC for comment following the Saudi club’s announcement.

Gonzalez arrives with a record of major success for club and country. She was part of Spain’s 2023 World Cup-winning squad and later represented the team that finished runner-up to England at Euro 2025. During three seasons in the United States after joining from Real Madrid, she won two NWSL titles, the NWSL Challenge Cup and the Concacaf W Champions Cup.

Al Qadsiah finished fourth in the 2025-26 Saudi Women’s Premier League. The club has confirmed the transfer, but the BBC report did not specify the length or financial terms of Gonzalez’s contract. Her signing therefore establishes her next team while leaving several details of the agreement undisclosed.