Manchester United have confirmed the extension of Odion Ighalo’s stay at the club, according to a statement the team released on Monday morning.
Ighalo’s initial six months deal with United ended on Sunday after he joined the Red Devils from the Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in January.
The Chinese Super League side wanted the player back as the football season is set to return this month or the next in the Asian nation.
They had given United an option to sign the Nigerian striker on a permanent basis – a deal that the Red Devils were not okay with.
But in a statement, the Premier League giants noted that they will be keeping the former Watford forward until January 2021 after reaching an agreement with Ighalo’s parent team in China.
“Manchester United have reached [an] agreement with Shanghai Greenland Shenhua to extend the loan deal for Odion Ighalo,” the club posted on its website.
“The Nigerian striker’s stay was initially due to end on 31 May but he will now remain with the Reds until 31 January 2021, enabling him to build on an impressive start to life with the club he supported as a boy.”
Since joining United, Ighalo has bagged four goals in eight matches in all competitions for the team.
With the Premier League set to restart on June 17 after being forced to take a break due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ighalo’s extended stay will come as good news to Red Devils gaffer, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
