Odion Ighalo: Former Manchester United Striker Completes Al-Shabab Move

The Nigerian forward left Manchester United a few days ago and has now secured a permanent transfer away from Shanghai Shenhua

Saudi Arabian Professional Football League club Al-Shabab have officially announced the signing of former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo.

The ex-Watford star terminated his contract with Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua to sign a two-and-a-half-year deal with the top Saudi Arabian club.

Ighalo was initially contracted to the Flowers of Shanghai until the end of 2020.

Still, Al-Shabab are believed to have parted with 2.5 million euros (around N1.44 billion in Nigerian currency) to convince the Chinese side to part with the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer.

The 31-year-old Ighalo has been assigned the number 89 jersey for the rest of the season.

Ighalo is one of Nigeria’s most travelled football stars, having played in Norway, Italy, Spain, England, and China.

The Benin-born striker began his European sojourn at Lyn Oslo before enjoying different spells at Udinese, Granada, and Cesena.

The former Julius Berger ace then moved to England, where he helped Watford gained promotion to the English Premier League and established his name by scoring 39 goals in 100 appearances for the Hornets.

At a relatively young age of 27, Ighalo made a surprise switch to China to team up with Changchun Yatai in January 2017.

Another stunning loan move during last year’s winter transfer window saw the retired Super Eagles striker sign for Manchester United.

And Ighalo subsequently became the first Nigerian-born player to feature for Manchester United when he debuted for the Red Devils against Chelsea in February 2020.

Ighalo’s deal with Al-Shabab will keep him at the club until the end of the 2022-2023 season.