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₦30 Billion Transfer: Odion Ighalo Breaks Silence On Dream Deal
“The club already accepted the offer without my consent because it was good money for them. They accepted £20m, because no team would pay that,” Ighalo revealed.
Odion Ighalo, the former striker for the Super Eagles, has opened up about his career-defining transfer from Watford to the Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai.
In a recent interview on the Echo Podcast, Ighalo candidly shared that his move was primarily motivated by financial considerations.
He reflected on the moment he received a substantial £20 million offer from the Chinese side, indicating that he did not think twice before making the decision to accept it.
The opportunity not only presented a significant financial boost but also marked a new chapter in his football journey, showcasing how lucrative offers from abroad can impact a player’s career choices.
Ighalo’s insights shed light on the balance between passion for the game and financial stability that many athletes face in their careers.
“I was 27 at the time. I’d fulfilled my personal dream of playing in the English Premier League,” Ighalo said.
“When I was growing up in Ajegunle, I didn’t even know I’d get to the level I got to. I just wanted to make a few bucks to change my family and make them proud, alongside a dream to play in the Premier League because I watched the league a lot. It’s the most viewed in the world.”
Ighalo recounted how he and others crowded viewing centres to watch Premier League matches growing up.
“Back then, we used to pay to sit at the viewing centre, lapping each other to watch the television. The dream already came true for me, so when the offer from China came, I said it was an opportunity to make money, and I decided to grab it,” he said.
The 34-year-old also noted that Watford accepted the transfer offer without his consent, as the fee was too good to reject.
“The club already accepted the offer without my consent because it was good money for them. They accepted £20m, because no team would pay that,” he revealed.
Ighalo signed a four-year contract and scored 36 goals in 53 or 54 games during his two years at Changchun Yatai before sealing a more lucrative move to Shanghai Shenhua.
“I played one year at Shanghai before going on loan to Manchester United,” he concluded.
Ighalo signed for Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai from Watford in 2017 transfer.
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