Official: Saudi Arabia champions sign Super Eagles striker

The Nigerian international has become the biggest star in the Arabian top-flight after he completed his switch to one of the country’s most prominent clubs

With a tweet on their official Twitter account, Saudi Arabia champions Al Hilal have announced the signing of Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo from fellow Pro League side Al Shabab.

Ighalo has been with Al Shabab since February 2021 after ending a year-long loan spell at Manchester United. The striker’s contract with the White Lion was to run until June 30, 2023. 

But Al Hilal have completed a sensational raid on their bitter rivals and have snatched away possibly the best striker in the Saudi Arabian Pro League.

The Blue Waves are aiming at repeating last year’s feat when they finished as champions of the elite division beating Al Shabab to second place.

Ighalo is presently the leading goalscorer in the league with 12 goals, and he was looking to inspire the White Lion to lift the league title.

But after watching the departure of star man Bafétimbi Gomis, Al Hilal have raided their arch-rivals of their top hitman and will hope his form catapults them from fourth place to the top of the pile.

Ighalo has previously played for Lyn Oslo, Udinese, Granada, CC Yatai, and Shanghai Shenhua, among others.

The 32-year-old came out of international retirement to help Nigeria qualify for the final playoff round of the FIFA World Cup.

But he missed the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon after Al Shabab refused to him join the Super Eagles after he was selected for the tournament.