‘I was devastated’ – Man United’s first Super Eagles signing crushed King’s dream move

Former Bournemouth striker Joshua King has opened up about the painful moment his dream move to Man United slipped away, a deal that was ultimately taken by Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo, Afrik-Foot reports.

King, who started his career at United as a teenager, had long hoped to return to Old Trafford. By 2020, that opportunity finally seemed within reach. United were searching for a striker, and with fellow Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjær in charge, everything appeared to be falling into place.

“The dream was to play for United,” King said as per the Mirror. “Now United are struggling with a striker. They have a Norwegian coach who is interested.”

But the move never happened. Bournemouth reportedly rejected a £25 million bid, and King believes that decision changed everything.

“Put an offer on the table, and I came there for free. And then you say no to £25m. He (then-Bournemouth head coach Eddie Howe) said: ‘Joshua, I won’t stand in your way, but the club wants x number of millions‘.”

King described the tense wait as the Man United deal hung in the balance.

“I just sat in the hot tub for two or three hours waiting for the phone. I called Jim [Solbakken, his agent], who was working on that deal. And then I remember reading ‘Ighalo ready for United’. Then I was completely devastated. Then I was way down.”

The disappointment lingered for King. “I don’t know if it came from Eddie or if it came from the club,” he added. “But it came from somewhere. And that was part of the reason why I wanted to leave Bournemouth and try a new chapter.”

Ighalo’s Man United spell and lasting legacy

While King was left heartbroken, Ighalo stepped into the spotlight. The lifelong Man United fan joined on loan in January 2020 from Shanghai Shenhua, even taking a pay cut to secure what he called a dream move. He became the first Nigerian international to play for Manchester United.

His impact was immediate. Ighalo scored five goals in 19 appearances, including memorable strikes in the FA Cup and Europa League. His composed finish against LASK and a brilliant brace against Derby County showed his sharp instincts in front of goal.

Although he did not score in the Premier League and had limited league opportunities, his role went beyond numbers. Ighalo provided experience, professionalism and depth during a difficult period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before his United move, Ighalo had built a strong career across Europe and Asia. After starting in Nigeria, he moved to Norway, then Italy with Udinese, and later impressed in Spain with Granada. His time at Watford was particularly significant, as he helped the club gain promotion to the Premier League.

On the international stage, Ighalo made his mark with Nigeria. He was top scorer at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and played a key role in securing a third-place finish for the Super Eagles.