Gay Women’s Soccer Star Deletes Photos of Wife and Child After Signing with Saudi Arabian Team
Gay Women’s Soccer Star Deletes Photos of Wife and Child After Signing with Saudi Arabian Team
Natasha DyeFri, August 28, 2026 at 4:58 PM UTC
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Esther González on Aug. 29, 2025 in Orlando, FloridaCredit: Dustin Markland/Getty -
Spanish soccer star Esther González reportedly deleted photos of her wife and child after signing with a club in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex relationships are illegal
González welcomed her first child with her wife Estefanía in January
In July, González said she was terminating her contract with Gotham FC for “strictly personal reasons”
Spanish soccer star Esther González is making headlines after signing with a Saudi Arabian club.
González, 33, signed with the team Al Qadisiyah, located in Al Khobar, according to BBC, and will play in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex relationships are not legal and punishable by law.
Following the announcement, González — who welcomed her first child with wife Estefanía in January — deleted the photos of Estefanía and their baby from her Instagram account, according to Spanish outlet El Mundo.
When the soccer star’s account was reviewed by PEOPLE, the only images found with Estefanía still on her page were buried into carousels or from more than two years ago.
Esther González on Aug. 20, 2023 in Sydney, AustraliaCredit: Alex Pantling/FIFA via Getty
Estefanía’s Instagram account is private.
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Online sleuths have reposted photos of the couple previously shared, including images from when Estefanía was pregnant with their child.
On Aug. 26, a fan on X wrote, “Has anyone seen how Esther González has deleted all the photos of her wife and child off instagram since the move to Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia was announced?” In response, another said, “Absolutely grim isn’t it? I guess personal beliefs and principles have a price.”
Before signing with the Saudi Arabian team, González ruffled feathers with NWSL fans when she and Gotham FC announced they’d agreed to a mutual contract termination in July, claiming that González needed to take care of “personal matters in Spain.”
González, a two-time NWSL champion, said in a statement on Instagram that her decision was “due to strictly personal reasons.”
González played for Gotham for three seasons, becoming the team’s all-time top scorer. Alongside her national team, Spain, she won the 2023 World Cup.
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
