Esther González faces backlash after Al-Qadsiah transfer

Esther González’s move to Saudi Arabia has become a major controversy in women’s football, with the Spain international facing criticism after joining Al-Qadsiah. The backlash comes from local voices and LGBTQIA+ users who have questioned the decision to continue her career in a country where same-sex relations are criminally punished.

González is 33 and was part of Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup-winning team. She was also the leading scorer at Euro 2025. Reports have suggested that her new contract could be worth at least twice the $560,000 annual salary she earned in the United States, adding a financial dimension to the debate.

After the transfer was announced, González removed several social media images featuring her wife and daughter. The change drew further attention online. Some supporters and people presenting themselves as religious authorities issued direct warnings against her arrival and rejected what they described as rainbow ideology in Saudi Arabia.

The criticism has also come from within the LGBTQIA+ community, where users have pointed to an apparent conflict between González’s previous positions and her decision to join the Saudi league. She had ended her contract with her American club in late July for strictly personal reasons and said she wanted a temporary break from football. Her Al-Qadsiah agreement, announced a month later, made the transfer an unprecedented development for Saudi women’s football.