Two years ago Manchester United shocked everybody with a move to sign Odion Ighalo on loan.
It was a panic driven move to sign the striker after missing out on Erling Haaland, and then Marcus Rashford suffered an injury.
Ighalo had a bright run before the lockdown, scoring four goals in cup games. He then adding a fifth after the season suspension, but had lost all momentum.
Now he is on the move again, one year after leaving Manchester United.
Saudi switch
Ighalo’s original loan at Manchester United was extended past June to January 2021. When this expired, Shanghai Shenhua agreed to let him leave permanantly.
The striker signed for Saudi side Al Shabab, and has now left to join league rivals Al Hilal, who announced the move at the weekend.
Ighalo scored 22 goals in 32 games for Al Shabab over the past year, also providing four assists.
His side sit third in the Saudi Pro League, and his new club Al Hilal are in fourth, three points behind.
Ighalo, now 32-years-old, returned to the Nigeria national team last November, although he was not part of the squad for the AFCON.
After announcing his new transfer on Instagram, Ighalo’s post was ‘liked’ by former teammates Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard.
In signing for United in 2020, Ighalo got the chance to fulfil a dream, playing for the club he supported as a boy.
Just last month Sky Sports had reported Ighalo was on a list of potential transfer targets for Newcastle United. He had told Goal.com that last year both West Ham and West Brom were keen on signing him after he left Old Trafford.
Instead he begins a new chapter with Al Hilal, where he is likely to continue to score regularly, and likely get very rich in the process.
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