Ellie Watkins, wife of England striker Ollie Watkins, was recently forced to flee her home in Saudi Arabia due to missile attacks in the region, highlighting the challenges faced by partners of footballers transferring to the Middle East. Watkins had moved to Saudi Arabia in the summer after her husband signed for Al-Hilal, leaving behind her life in England with their two young children.
"There's just a little bit of conflict and things going on over in Saudi and we basically decided just to stay here until it calms down," Ellie explained on TikTok. She added that she felt it was necessary for the children's normality until they could return. This relocation came after initial tears over the move, with Ellie later expressing that things had been coming together before the escalation of conflict.
The decision for players to move to the Saudi Pro League is often met with scrutiny, with discussions around the significant financial incentives, human rights issues in the country, and accusations of sports washing. While players like Ollie Watkins and Jordan Henderson have cited desires to see the league grow or the standard of play, the tax-free salaries, reported to be substantially higher than in European leagues, are a significant draw.
For partners, the adjustment can be particularly difficult. Taylor Ward, wife of Riyad Mahrez, previously shared her emotional struggles after moving to Saudi Arabia. In a television series, she spoke of the challenges of finding housing, cultural differences, and the isolation of starting over in a new country without a familiar support network. Mahrez himself was reportedly living in a hotel while Ward and their daughter stayed in England for a period, waiting for more stable accommodation.
Another instance involved footballer Jordan Henderson's family, who lived in Bahrain rather than Saudi Arabia during his brief stint with Al-Ettifaq, opting for the more liberal environment of the island nation. Reports have also emerged of partners experiencing uncomfortable interactions in public spaces, such as being hissed at for wearing shorts in shopping malls.
The experiences of Rio and Kate Ferdinand, who moved to Dubai, also illustrate the potential for disruption. While not directly tied to football transfers, the couple returned to the UK with their children in March after Iranian drone attacks in the UAE led them to shelter in their basement. They later returned to Dubai after a month.
These situations underscore the complexities and potential risks involved when families relocate to the Middle East for lucrative football contracts, forcing a re-evaluation of whether the financial and professional benefits outweigh the personal and safety concerns.