Former football star Ian Wright is covering the costs of an ACL rehabilitation for female player Kayleigh McDonald, amounting to £1,700 monthly. McDonald feels that Wright deserves greater recognition for his dedication to advancing women’s football.

Kayleigh McDonald, now a free agent, suffered her injury in March 2024 while playing for Stoke City. The Stoke men’s team is in the Championship, while the women’s team competes at a semi-professional level in the third tier.

Following weeks of waiting for a diagnosis, during which McDonald was unable to work in her role as a materials coordinator for a vehicle manufacturer, Stoke City informed her that she would need to handle the operation through the NHS. Faced with a lengthy waiting list, McDonald established a GoFundMe campaign to fund private medical care and promoted her quest on social media.

This outreach caught the attention of Ian Wright, the former Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and England striker. He subsequently financed a sports lawyer who enabled Stoke City to cover her surgery and rehabilitation expenses. Four months ago, Wright began to pay for McDonald’s rehabilitation treatment.

In recent days, Wright has garnered substantial support after Eni Aluko, a pundit and former England player, criticized him for allegedly stifling opportunities for women and dominating football commentary. Despite the backlash from Aluko’s remarks, McDonald believes Wright should be acknowledged even more.

“He or any of his team never requested anything specific from me,” McDonald stated. “I once reached out to thank him and asked if I could give him a shout-out on Twitter, and he replied, ‘If you want to, but don’t feel you need to.’ I’ve never felt he sought anything in return.

“He’s just a normal guy. He’s a legend and comes across as genuinely caring. He is incredibly passionate about women’s football.

“I don’t think he receives enough credit for his contributions. In earlier days, we desired that men engage to raise awareness and draw fans to women’s football.

“Now, someone like him, so deeply invested in the women’s game—he knows every player in the Women’s Super League. He is not just conducting surface-level research; he truly loves women’s football.”

McDonald, who is 31 years old, underwent surgery last May, but Stoke City only agreed to support her rehabilitation until November and then extended it to December. She was working with Alan Jordan of Peak 2B Elite but preferred not to switch rehabilitation coaches due to the rapport they had developed and the complexities of her injury.

Wright stepped in to cover her rehabilitation costs, allowing McDonald to continue her treatment with Jordan, and he continues to provide financial support.

“Stoke mentioned they didn’t believe I was progressing as expected and wanted to take over my rehabilitation, claiming they cared which surprised me because they hadn’t checked on me at all,” McDonald explained. “Ian began supporting my treatment in January, covering the cost, which is about £1,700 monthly.”

Wright advocates for women’s football through his commentary and charitable efforts. His initiatives include the Ian Wright Coaching Fund, aimed at increasing the number of female grassroots coaches, where he contributed £15,000 towards training courses. He also established the first girls’ team at his childhood club, Ten Em Bee, located in southeast London.

Supporting McDonald is another testament to his commitment to women’s football, with McDonald noting that Wright did not require persuasion to assist her.

“I’m not comfortable accepting help from friends at a bar, but after all the time spent in rehab, switching to a new coach would have been mentally taxing due to the necessity of building trust,” McDonald added.

Recently, McDonald experienced a setback in her recovery, necessitating a keyhole surgery. She and Wright exchange supportive messages occasionally, and McDonald is assured of his ongoing assistance.

“He has always encouraged me to reach out if I need anything,” McDonald said. “He’s done more than enough already, but I’m confident we’ll maintain our connection.”

Stoke City has been approached for comments regarding McDonald’s situation.