Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Odion Ighalo on loan from Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season.
News broke shortly before the 11pm transfer deadline that the Red Devils had agreed terms with the 30-year-old over a shock move to Old Trafford, finally bringing an end to their wide-ranging pursuit of a new striker on the final day of the window.
However, confirmation from the club itself did not arrive until past midnight, with the official United Twitter account revealing that the "lifelong Reds supporter" had joined on a temporary basis until the end of the campaign.
The deal is understood to include an option to make the move permanent should Ighalo impress during his time at Old Trafford.
"Odion is an experienced player. He will come in and give us an option of a different type of centre-forward for the short spell he's staying with us," manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told the club's official website.
"A great lad and very professional, he will make the most of his time here."
Ighalo has past experience of English football from his time at Watford, where he scored 39 goals in 99 appearances including 16 in 55 Premier League games.
Barney Corkhill
