MX23RW : Friday, October 4 07:37:10| >> :120:6455:6455:

Odion Ighalo 'rejected big-money China move'

Watford striker Odion Ighalo claims that he turned down the chance to earn £300,000 a week in the Chinese Super League in last summer's transfer window.

Watford striker Odion Ighalo has claimed that he turned down a £300,000-a-week contract offer from the Chinese Super League last summer.

The 26-year-old scored 20 times for Watford last season as the capital club were promoted from the Championship to the Premier League.

Ighalo has revealed that an unnamed Chinese club were prepared to offer a substantial financial package to lure him at the start of the season, but he decided to remain at Vicarage Road.

"I have 14 goals in the Premier League, how do I go to China now? I was very close. They made a £10m bid and were offering me over £200,000 a week; a four-year contract. I couldn't sleep for three days. That kind of money is not easy to turn down," Ighalo told the Daily Mail.

"Some teammates in the dressing room were saying, 'You can't miss this chance'. But I don't jump into decisions like that. I prayed about it, and God said it was not for me, no matter how much money it was. I knew God would direct me. When I said I don't want to go, they offered me more money, almost £300,000 a week. I told them it's not about the money."

Ighalo signed a new five-year contract with Watford last September, believed to be worth in the region of £30,000 a week.

ID:265845: cacheID:265845:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2022:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Heurelho Gomes of Watford gestures during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Watford at Goodison Park on August 8, 2015
Read Next:
Gomes pleased with man-of-the-match display
>
Read more about Odion Ighalo Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
OT
Buccaneers
30-36
Falcons
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland86021661018
2Burnley85211441017
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd8530103716
4West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom8512126616
5Leeds UnitedLeeds8431135815
6Blackburn RoversBlackburn8431149515
7Middlesbrough842295414
8Watford84131213-113
9Hull City8332129312
10Norwich CityNorwich83321210212
11Oxford UnitedOxford Utd83231210211
12Swansea CitySwansea832386211
13Bristol City8242913-410
14Stoke CityStoke83051012-29
15Derby CountyDerby83051012-29
16Millwall8224121118
17Coventry CityCoventry8224911-28
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth8224812-48
19Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds8224914-58
20Luton TownLuton8224813-58
21Preston North EndPreston8224712-58
22Queens Park RangersQPR8143914-57
23Portsmouth8044819-114
24Cardiff CityCardiff8116317-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!