SAN FRANCISCO, January 31, (THEWILL) – Manchester United has signed Odion Ighalo, 30, a former Watford striker from Shanghai Shenhua on loan until the end of this season.
The Nigerian striker is expected at Old Trafford in a few days and under his contract there is no clause that gives United the option to buy.
Ighalo scored 39 goals in 99 matches for Watford between 2014 and 2017.
“Odion is an experienced player,” said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“He will come in and give us an option of a different type of centre-forward for the short spell he’s staying with us.
“A great lad and very professional, he will make the most of his time here.”
Ighalo moved to the Chinese Super League in 2017, first with Changchun Yatai, the BBC reports. After two seasons he moved to Shanghai Shenhua and has scored 10 times in 19 games.
The BBC further reports that it’s a left-field move by United and I’m also sure that you’ll have read and heard all the negatives so to balance things out let me give you some positives: Ighalo is a natural number nine and a natural goalscorer with pace and power.
Barcelona tried to sign him just 12 months ago because they wanted that type of player. He turned them down.
He is a very strong character, too. The Nigerian got a lot of criticism back home after missing chances when the Super Eagles were knocked out by Argentina at the last World Cup (including abuse aimed at his family) but he came back stronger to finish top scorer not only in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying but also at the tournament itself, ahead of the likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez.
Ighalo’s proven in the Premier League and will be able to hit the ground running, fitness permitting.
He’ll also be a very popular team-mate who will give his all to be a success at United. Nobody will work harder.
It’s almost like a homecoming, too, as Ighalo’s family has been based in Manchester.
