Former Manchester United and Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo has opened up on why he left Watford for Chinese side Changchun Yatai, NaijNaira can report.
In a conversation on the Echo Podcast, the 2019 AFCON Golden Boot winner explained that the decision was driven by financial security, not ambition. Ighalo made the switch after realizing his lifelong goal of playing in the Premier League.
“I was 27 at the time. I’d fulfilled my dream,” Ighalo said. “Growing up in Ajegunle, I never imagined I’d get that far. We used to pay just to sit and watch games at viewing centres.”
The striker had joined Watford in 2014 and helped them gain Premier League promotion, scoring 20 goals in the Championship and 15 more in the top flight the following season.
When the £20 million offer came from China, Watford accepted immediately. “They didn’t even ask me first,” Ighalo recalled. “But I saw it as a chance to provide for my family.”
He signed a four-year deal, scored 36 goals in under two seasons, and later moved to Shanghai Shenhua before securing a loan move to Manchester United, where he scored five goals in 19 appearances.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
