Ighalo: “I Joined Changchun Yatai for Financial Security”

Former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has revealed that his 2017 move to Chinese club Changchun Yatai was motivated by the lucrative financial package involved.

Ighalo departed Watford for £20m to join the Chinese Super League side, where he scored 36 goals over two seasons. Speaking on Echo Podcast, the former Manchester United forward explained that he didn’t hesitate once the offer came through.

“I was 27 at the time. I’d fulfilled my personal dream of playing in the English Premier League. When I was growing up in Ajegunle, I didn’t even know I’d get to the level I got to. I just wanted to make a few bucks to change my family and make them proud, alongside a dream to play in the Premier League because I watched the league a lot. It’s the most viewed in the world.

“Back then, we used to pay to sit at the viewing centre, lapping each other to watch the television. The dream already came true for me, so when the offer from China came, I said it was an opportunity to make money, and I decided to grab it.

“The club already accepted the offer without my consent because it was good money for them. They accepted £20m, because no team would pay that. I signed a four-year contract with Changchun Yatai, but I played two years there before moving to Shanghai Shenhua, with even more money because I did so well, scoring 36 goals in 53 or 54 games for the initial two years.

“I played one year at Shanghai before going on loan to Manchester United,” the Al-Wehda striker concluded.

Editorial

We applaud Odion Ighalo’s honesty. In a football landscape where players often mask financial motives under the guise of “new challenges,” Ighalo’s candour is refreshing. His admission underscores a reality few like to confront: football is a career with a finite lifespan, and financial security matters.

By the age of 27, he had achieved his boyhood dream playing in the Premier League. Everything beyond that became a decision about sustainability. Should he have ignored a once in a lifetime offer that could transform his family’s future? Absolutely not. His pragmatic approach is admirable.

Critics might argue that moves to less competitive leagues diminish a player’s legacy, but does legacy put food on the table? The debate around footballers “chasing money” often ignores the sacrifices and short career spans athletes face.

We believe Ighalo’s story is a valuable lesson in financial planning and transparency in sports. Football careers are fleeting; securing one’s future is not greed it’s wisdom. In a game increasingly dominated by financial dynamics, perhaps honesty like Ighalo’s is what football needs most.

Did You Know?

1. Odion Ighalo grew up in Ajegunle, a Lagos suburb known for producing football talents like Taribo West and Obafemi Martins.
2. His £20m transfer to Changchun Yatai in 2017 made him one of the highest-paid African players at the time.
3. Before moving to China, Ighalo scored 15 goals in Watford’s first Premier League season after promotion in 2015/16.
4. He became the first Nigerian to play for Manchester United when he joined on loan in January 2020.
5. In the Chinese Super League, Ighalo reportedly earned over £200,000 per week during his spell with Shanghai Shenhua.