Odion Ighalo agrees to extend Manchester United loan until January

Odion Ighalo is staying at Manchester United after agreeing to extend his loan contract until the end of January 2021, the club confirmed on Monday morning.

The Nigerian striker’s loan deal from Shanghai Shenhua was set to come to an end today, but United have been able to extend it into next year. 

United will pay a portion of Ighalo’s wages and a fee to Shanghai. A new contract in China, understood to be worth approaching £400,000 per week, will be discussed after his United loan ends.

Shenhua admitted today that the ‘uncertainty’ around when foreigners will be allowed to return to China after the coronavirus crisis had played a part in their decision to allow Ighalo to stay in England. 

The 30-year-old has proved a hit at Old Trafford since his temporary move earlier this year, and has scored four times in eight appearances.

Last week, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: ‘They [Shanghai Greenland Shenhua] have been great towards us, allowing him to play for his dream club. It’s been a dream for him and hopefully he can finish what he started and win a trophy with us.’ 

Ighalo’s agent, Atta Aneke, had revealed on Sunday that a deal was close to being agreed between the two parties.