More than 125 women's soccer pros signed an open letter to FIFA earlier this week urging the international governing body to end its recently announced four-year sponsorship deal with state-owned Saudi oil and gas company Aramco, calling it "a middle finger to women's football."

Prominent signees include Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema, Canada captain Jessie Fleming, and USWNT legend Becky Sauerbrunn. The players' letter cites Saudi Arabia's concerning human rights record, particularly when it comes to women and the LGBTQ+ community. It also called out the impact of oil and gas production on climate change as reasons to cut ties.

For her part, Sauerbrunn specifically named individuals imprisoned by the government.

"We’re standing alongside women like Manahel al-Otaibi and Salma al-Shehab who the Saudi regime has imprisoned simply for peaceful expression of equal rights," she stated.

"The safety of those women, the rights of women, LGBTQ+ rights, and the health of the planet need to take a much bigger priority over FIFA making more money," she continued.

Manchester City forward and FIFA-Aramco letter activist Vivianne Miedema during a match.
Dutch star Vivianne Miedema is one of 125 players calling out FIFA's deal with Saudi-owned Aramco. (Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

FIFA's deepening Saudi ties concern women's soccer athletes

The partnership with Aramco is simply the latest in Saudi Arabia's investment into FIFA and the sports world in general. The kingdom, which has often been criticized for its widespread sportswashing practices, is imminently expected to be named the men's 2034 World Cup host.

FIFA responded to the players' letter on Monday, calling itself "an inclusive organization." The governing body leaned into the fact that the revenue from its partnerships are reinvested in growing women's soccer.

That reinvestment isn't enough to justify the ethical concerns, according to Miedema. "This is what we don’t want to stand for and accept within women’s football," the Manchester City star added.

"It’s simple: This sponsorship is contradicting FIFA’s own commitments to human rights and the planet."

Jessie Fleming is headed to Portland, with the Canadian national set to join the Thorns after departing Chelsea FC.

The Telegraph’s Tom Garry first reported the news, writing that Fleming said farewell to her Chelsea teammates on Monday. Garry also reported that Fleming is “adored by everyone” at the club and is parting on “great terms.”

Fleming’s transfer fee is reportedly around £250,000, or about $316,000 USD. It’s a record number for the NWSL and makes her the most expensive signing ever made by an American women’s team.

Fleming is a winner, having helped Chelsea to three Women’s Super League titles, three women’s FA Cups and a League Cup. She also won Olympic gold with Canada in Tokyo in 2021, scoring in the final.

With the transfer fee, Garry reports that the WSL leaders are likely going to use it toward signing a striker. Their sights are set on Colombian forward Mayra Ramírez from Levante, which has already been reported in Spain.

Fleming joins Canadian national teammates Christine Sinclair and Janine Beckie in Portland.