TheCable

Odion Ighalo, Super Eagles and Watford FC striker, says he got tired of sitting on the bench, hence, his decision to join the Chinese league.

Chinese club, Changchun Yatai, and Watford have reportedly agreed on £20 million for Ighalo.

Walter Mazzari, manager of Watford, had confirmed that the club was considering a “very important” offer for Ighalo.

The striker told TheCable that he would have loved to remain at Watford, but the yearn for playing time enforced his decision to move on.

“I can not continue to sit on the bench anymore here. Yes, I wish to remain at Watford but no team in England can pay the 20 million pounds Watford are asking for. So I just need to leave,” Ighalo told TheCable.

Interestingly, Chinese clubs have been on the trail of Odion Ighalo for some years.

In July 2015, Watford received and rejected a £10m offer for Ighalo from Chinese first division side, Hebei China Fortune.

A year later, Watford again rejected a £37.5m bid from Shanghai SIPG for the striker.

The club’s Swedish coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson, had planned to partner Ighalo with Brazilian striker Hulk but the deal failed to materialise.

The latest bid for the striker, it appears, was accepted and from all indications, Ighalo will be on his way to China to join Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi.

“Hopefully, everything will be sorted with Changchun Yatai today,” Ighalo said.

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The Nigerian football star is currently undergoing medical at Chongchun Yatai FC in China after Watford FC agreed on a fee.

Ighalo told TheCable: “I am undergoing medical with the Chinese Club that Watford agreed a fee on right now. I am sure it will be made official before the end of the day.”

Ighalo scored a total 36 goals in 99 games for Watford since joining the team on loan from Granada in 2014.