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One of the most shocking transfer signings this winter period was Manchester United signing striker Odion Ighalo on loan from the Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.
A lifelong dream of Ighalo was to play for United, and now the ex-Watford player finally has had his jersey number revealed: number 25. That shirt has been vacant since former club captain Antonio Valencia left Old Trafford last summer.
Ighalo’s chosen shirt is likely to be popular with fans back home in his native Nigeria. Super Eagles legend Nwankwo Kanu wore the number 25 jersey at Arsenal and is regarded as one of the best players in African football history, after a storied career where he won a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, three FA Cup medals and two African Player of the Year awards amongst others.
Here he is!
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 4, 2020
First interview with @IghaloJude as an #MUFC player, coming soon... Watch this space pic.twitter.com/OqeIeVAEm3
Ighalo is in line to became the first Nigerian player to represent Manchester United in the English Premier League when they return from winter break and face Chelsea on February 17. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in need of help in attack, and said the follow about United’s new loanee:
“He is a different type of striker and he is a proven goalscorer. He has a physical presence. Also he gives us a chance to rest Mason and Anthony.
“We have so many games to come. We want to go far in the Europa League and FA Cup and we have league games to go so it was important we had another type of striker to use.”