“The move to Saudi Arabia was an incredibly emotional and disorienting experience for my family. When Riyadh first got the call about this new opportunity, it all happened so quickly that my head was spinning. One minute we were settled in Manchester, with our comfortable routines and a wonderful support system of friends and family. The next we were packing up our entire lives and preparing to move to the other side of the world. It was a complete shock to the system. I remember the night Riyadh called me, his voice shaking as he explained the situation. The club wanted him to join their team in Riyadh as soon as possible and they were sending a car to our house that evening to begin the move. I was completely blindsided: we had planned for Riyadh to return to Manchester City for pre-season training, without packing up and leaving the country. I burst into tears, realising that our comfortable life in the UK was about to be turned upside down.
Looking back, the week leading up to the move was an emotional rollercoaster. Riyadh was trying to wrap up his business in Manchester while preparing for this huge transition. Meanwhile, I was an emotional mess, trying to manage the logistics of the move while grieving for the life we were leaving behind. The club sent a member of staff to our house to help us pack, and when she called me, I just lost it. I sobbed uncontrollably, feeling overwhelmed by the finality of it all. I didn’t even have time to say goodbye to my closest friends – it all happened in such a whirlwind.
The journey to Riyadh was a blur. Riyadh and I, along with our two young children, found ourselves on a private jet, watching the familiar landscapes of England give way to the vast desert expanses of the Middle East. It was surreal, like something out of a dream. I held my children close, trying to comfort them as they felt my own anxiety and distress. Arriving in Riyadh was equally disorienting. We were immediately whisked away to a luxury apartment that the club had booked for us. It was beautiful, yes, but also so alien and impersonal. Our comfortable home in Manchester now seemed a million miles away. I remember standing in the immaculate, modern kitchen, looking up at the towering skyscrapers and feeling so lost. This was our new reality now, but it didn’t feel like home at all.
The first few weeks have been emotional. There are moments of excitement and hope as we explore this new city and immerse ourselves in the local culture. But there are also so many moments of heartbreak, homesickness and uncertainty. I miss my friends terribly and worry about how our children will adapt to such a drastic change. Riyad is doing his best to focus on his football, to make this transition as smooth as possible for our family. But I can also see the toll it is taking on him. He is under so much pressure to perform, to justify this big step, while supporting me and the children as we try to find our feet. It is a lot for anyone to handle.
The transition to life in Saudi Arabia was certainly a huge change for our family. After the whirlwind of leaving our comfortable life in Manchester, arriving in Jeddah felt like we had landed on another planet. The pace, the culture, the very atmosphere – it was all so unfamiliar and foreign. I admit there were many moments in those first few weeks when I felt completely overwhelmed and lost. One of the biggest changes was the radically different lifestyle. Back in Manchester, our days were a constant whirlwind of activity: running errands, meeting up with friends, wandering around the city. I loved the energy of it all, the way we were always on the move, always experiencing something new. Here in Jeddah, everything happens at a slower, more methodical pace. The streets are quieter, the social calendar more sparse. There is a pervasive sense of tranquility that, while pleasant in its own way, sometimes leaves me feeling a little isolated and unstimulated.
I miss the ease with which we could meet up with loved ones in Manchester. Going to my sister’s for a cup of tea, having dinner with my best friends, inviting the whole family over for the Sunday roast – those casual, spontaneous moments of connection are much harder now. The distance from my support network is truly the hardest part of this transition. No matter how beautiful the beaches or how luxurious the shops, nothing can replace the comfort of being surrounded by the people I’m closest to. But I’m slowly finding ways to create a new sense of community here. The club has been wonderfully welcoming, introducing us to other playing families and helping us settle in. And Riyadh has been a rock, making sure I have the space and support I need to start to feel at home. We’ve explored new restaurants, wandered through bustling souks and even taken the kids on a desert safari. Little by little, Jeddah is becoming more familiar, more comfortable.
There are still days, of course, when I am gripped by a painful homesickness. I will be enjoying a quiet moment, gazing at the glittering towers of the city skyline, and suddenly I will be overcome by a deep longing for the pleasant streets of Manchester. The weight of everything we have left behind can feel overwhelming. But I try to remind myself that this is now our new reality and the only way forward is to fully accept it. Honestly, I am still dealing with many of the emotions that come with this massive upheaval. The grief of saying goodbye to our old life, the uncertainty of navigating this unfamiliar world, it is a lot to take in. But I try to focus on the positive, on the incredible opportunities this decision presents us with.
Jeddah is a vibrant, dynamic city with so much to explore. The children are thriving in their new schools, making new friends, and discovering a rich and fascinating culture. And for Riyadh, it’s an opportunity to take his career to new heights, to challenge himself in ways he never has before. So while homesickness can be crippling at times, I’m doing my best to approach this chapter with an open heart and mind. With patience and perseverance, I know this place will start to feel like home, too. There’s a tranquility and beauty to life here that I’m learning to appreciate, even as I still grieve the loss of our old life. One day at a time, I’m building a new foundation for our family in this foreign land. It won’t be easy, but I’m determined to get there.
I consider myself very lucky that my job allows me to travel easily. In that sense, I am not held back by any constraints. I have always been okay with that and said: "Look, I want us to stay together as a family. A football career is very short and you have to make the most of it." For now, the plan is to stay in Saudi Arabia for a few years and really soak it all in, as reported by the Daily Mail. I recognise how incredibly lucky I am to have this kind of flexibility in my life. Not everyone has the opportunity to pick up and move their family around the world, to explore new cultures and new environments. I am deeply grateful that my career path has given me this freedom. At the same time, I know that uprooting our lives and settling in a completely foreign place has not been easy. There have been significant adjustments and challenges that my family has had to face. Leaving the comfort and familiarity of our home in Manchester has been difficult, and building a new sense of community in Jeddah has taken time and effort. But through it all, I have tried to maintain a positive and open-minded outlook. I recognize that this is an incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth, not only for my husband but for our entire family.
The children are thriving in their new schools and soaking up Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural traditions. And for my husband, this move represents an opportunity to propel his career to new heights. Of course, I still miss the ease of being with close friends and family back home. Being away from my support network is undoubtedly the hardest part of this transition. But I’m doing my best to make new connections and find a sense of belonging in this new setting. Slowly but surely, Jeddah is starting to feel more like home. I try to remind myself that change, while challenging, can also be incredibly rewarding. This experience is testing me in ways I never imagined, teaching me to be more adaptable and resilient. And I hope that in the end, we will emerge from this chapter with an even stronger family bond. So while there are certainly challenges and moments of homesickness, I choose to focus on the incredible opportunities this move presents. I am determined to make the most of our time here, soaking up every new experience and creating lasting memories. After all, a football career is indeed fleeting, and I want to ensure my husband and our family make the most of this chapter.
One of the things that has made this transition a little easier is the warm welcome we have received from the local community. The football club has been incredibly supportive, introducing us to other playing families and helping us find our feet. And the city itself has a vibrant energy that is slowly starting to captivate me. The bustling souks, the imposing modern architecture, the beautiful coastline – there is so much to explore and discover. I have also found great comfort in connecting with other expat wives and mothers. Sharing our experiences of adjusting to life in Saudi Arabia has created an instant sense of camaraderie. We have bonded over cultural differences, finding the best shops and restaurants and supporting each other through the ups and downs. These new friendships have been a vital lifeline, reminding me that I am not alone on this journey.
And of course, my husband has been a steadfast source of strength and support. He understands the magnitude of what we’ve taken on, uprooting our family and diving into the unknown. There have been times when I’ve felt completely overwhelmed, but he’s always there to lend me a listening ear and offer words of encouragement. His own enthusiasm for this new chapter has also been incredibly infectious, inspiring me to embrace the adventure. Truth be told, there are still days when I’m gripped by a deep sense of homesickness. The weight of everything we left behind can feel overwhelming, and I long for the familiarity and comfort of our old lives. But in those moments, I try to refocus my energy on all that we have to gain. This is an opportunity to expand our horizons, to expose our children to a rich and fascinating culture, to challenge ourselves in ways we never have before.
