Odion Ighalo Joins Manchester United: The First-Ever Nigerian to Sign With The Red Devils

Odion Ighalo Joins Manchester United: The First-Ever Nigerian to Sign for The Red Devils 

Odion Ighalo joining Manchester United had to be the biggest news on transfer deadline day, no one saw it coming until yesterday’s evening. The former Nigerian international, Ighalo, will be the first-ever Nigerian footballer to play for Manchester United, John Mikel Obi would have been the first to do this in 2006 as he was very close putting pen to paper for the Red Devils but a last-minute decision saw him signed for Chelsea. 

Ighalo signs for Man United on a six-month loan deal with a reported option to buy agreement from his parent club, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua in China. 

Playing for the second time in England (Premier League) won’t be a problem for the forward as he was once a former player for Watford before he headed to China on 31 January 2017 to sign for Changchun Yatai. The 30 years old striker (Ighalo) already had 16 Premier League goals in 55 league appearances during his first time in England, winning Premier league player of the month once. 

No doubt Odion Ighalo is already relishing his move to Manchester United as he had come out to say playing for United is his dream sometimes ago (2016): “I’m not sure I could say no if United called. They were my team growing up. I loved watching Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. They were my idols and playing at Old Trafford has always been a dream.”  

Man United decision to sign the 2019 AFCON top-scorer is a good one, his addition increases their options in attack. 

Most goals scored in a single Premier League season by current Man United players:

Odion Ighalo, 2015/2016 season. (15 goals)

*Marcus Rashford, 2019/2020 season. (14 goals). 

Paul Pogba, 2018/2019 season. (13 goals)

Anthony Martial, 2015/2016 season. (11 goals)

Before signing Ighalo, Anthony Martial has been the only senior top-striker at the club. Ighalo coming will provide competition for the French man.  
Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, after securing the deal that brought Ighalo to Old Trafford: “Odion is an experienced player. 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.”