Odion Ighalo is one of the most successful Nigerian footballers in the world. He plays as a striker for English club Manchester United, on loan from Chinese club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. He is also a regular member of the Nigeria national team, having represented his country at the 2018 World Cup and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was the top scorer. In this article, we will take a look at his biography, early life, family, education, football career, personal life and net worth.
We’d be seeing Odion Ighalo’s biography, date of birth, age, early life, family, entertainment career, movies, net worth, houses, cars, social media handles and more.
Full names: Odion Jude Ighalo
Date of birth: 16th June, 1989
Age: 34 years (2023)
Nationality: Nigerian
Parents: Paul Ighalo
Spouse: Adesuwa Sonia Ighalo
Education: Macarena, Ajegunle
Occupation: Footballer
Net Worth:
Odion Ighalo Biography and Early Life
Odion Jude Ighalo was born on 16 June 1989 in Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up in Edo State, where he developed his passion for football. He started his career at Nigerian clubs Prime and Julius Berger, where he was discovered by FIFA agent Marcelo Houseman who recommended him to Atta Aneke, being subsequently taken on trial by Norway’s Lyn. He made his debut in the Norwegian top division at the age of 18, scoring in a 2–0 win against Viking. He impressed with his goalscoring abilities, attracting interest from other clubs in Norway and abroad.
Football Career
In 2008, Ighalo signed for Italian club Udinese, agreeing to a five-year contract. However, he did not get much playing time in Serie A, and was loaned out to Spanish club Granada for three seasons. He helped Granada achieve promotion to La Liga in 2011, and scored 16 goals in 95 appearances for the club.
In 2014, he joined English club Watford on loan, and was instrumental in their promotion to the Premier League in the 2014–15 season. He formed a prolific partnership with Troy Deeney, scoring 20 goals in 38 games. He continued his impressive form in the Premier League, scoring 15 goals in his first season in the top flight. He also won the Premier League Player of the Month award for December 2015.
In January 2017, Ighalo moved to China, joining Changchun Yatai for a reported £20 million fee. He scored 36 goals in 55 games for the club, but could not prevent their relegation from the Chinese Super League in 2018. He then transferred to Shanghai Shenhua in February 2019, where he scored 10 goals in 17 games.
In January 2020, Ighalo made a sensational return to the Premier League, joining Manchester United on loan until the end of the season. He became the first Nigerian player to play for the Red Devils, and scored his first goal for them in a 5–0 win over Club Brugge in the Europa League. He also scored twice in a 3–0 win over Derby County in the FA Cup, and once in a 2–0 win over Manchester City in the Premier League.
Ighalo made his debut for the Nigeria national team in March 2015 against Uganda. He scored his first goal for his country in a 3–0 win over Cameroon in a friendly match. He represented Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he played three games but did not score. He was more successful at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where he scored five goals and won the Golden Boot award. He also helped Nigeria finish third in the tournament, scoring the winning goal against Tunisia in the third-place match. He announced his retirement from international football after the tournament.
Personal Life
Ighalo is married to Adesuwa Sonia Ighalo since 2009. They have three children together: Samuel, Bernice and Daniel. Ighalo is a devout Christian who often dedicates his goals to God. He also runs an orphanage called the Ighalo Orphanage Home in Lagos, where he supports over 100 children.
Net Worth
Ighalo is one of the highest-paid African footballers in the world. According to various sources, his net worth is estimated to be between $10 million and $20 million as of 2023. He earns a salary of $5 million per year from Shanghai Shenhua, and reportedly receives £100,000 per week from Manchester United during his loan spell. He also has endorsement deals with brands like Nike and Coca-Cola.