Before his summer switch to Al Wehda, Odion Ighalo had earned one of the highest salaries in the history of Nigerian football. However, the veteran forward will reportedly be earning less than a billion naira yearly with his new deal.
Super Eagles of Nigeria forward Odion Ighalo has been ranked amongst the richest Nigerian footballers in 2023.
The 34-year-old veteran forward has racked up an incredible amount of wealth by plying his trade across various continents including Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
A few years ago, Ighalo was named the highest-paid Nigerian footballer after signing for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua, with whom he scored 10 goals in 17 appearances for.
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Before his move to Shanghai, Ighalo was already on a weekly wage north of $180,000 as per multiple reports while playing for Changchun Yatai.
The Super Eagles striker later went on loan to Premier League club Manchester United.
Despite receiving a paycut to play at the Theatre of Dreams, Ighalo was still the no.1 highest-paid Nigerian footballer in the world and that continued when he sealed a transfer to the Middle East in 2021.
However, in 2023, Ighalo has now witnessed an incredible paycut in his wages having sealed a summer switch to another Saudi Pro League club Al Wehda from league giants Al Hilal.
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Odion Ighalo new Saudi wages revealed as Super Eagles star now earns 4 times less than his former salary
Pulse Sports reported that Ighalo signed for Al Wehda this summer after his contract with Saudi League giants Al Hilal expired.
The former Watford striker’s wages have now been revealed and it is significantly less than what he’s usually been paid for most of his professional career.
According to Sportspayout.com, Odion Ighalo now earns a weekly salary of N21 million (£17,700) with his new club and a base annual salary of N985 million (£850,000).
The report by the aforementioned outlet now means the Nigeria international now earns up to four times less than his former salary in Saudi Arabia.
With Al Hilal, Ighalo reportedly earned N81,900,000 ($90,000) a week and a base annual salary of N4.6 billion (£4 million), as per Total Sportal.
Before his time there, he reportedly earned an impressive N155 million($170,000) weekly salary at Al Shabab as per National Accord Newspaper, shortly after his loan stint with Man United.
Ighalo’s salary earnings over the course of his career is said to be one of the highest of all time amongst Nigerian players having seen his time in China fetch him not less than N91 million($100,000) weekly, before switching to Manchester United where he reportedly earned around N228 million ($250,000) every single week.
Before his move to China, Ighalo played for Championship side Watford, whom he helped gain promotion to the Premier League in 2015.
Ighalo was reportedly earning around N35 million (£30,000) per week for the hornets.
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