Al Hilal new no 9 Ighalo breaks a Nigerian transfer record held by ex-Chelsea star

Odion Ighalo was unveiled by Al Hilal on Saturday after completing his transfer from Saudi Pro League rivals Al-Shabab.

The Super Eagles striker wore the number 9 kit during his unveiling ceremony and allnigeriasoccer.com can reveal that it's the same number he will be wearing for the remainder of the 2021-2022 campaign at Al-Hilal.

In Ighalo's first season in Europe, he wore the number 20 kit at Lyn Oslo and used the number 9 and 89 during his time with Udinese in Italy, and was allocated the number 24 at Watford.

The 32-year-old played with the numbers 7, 16 and 25 during his spells with Granada in Spain, wore the number 25 at Manchester United and played with nos 89 and 9 at Al-Shabab.

Ighalo broke a Nigerian transfer record following his move to Al Hilal as he has now become the most expensive player above the age of thirty acquired by a club that is if only permanent transfers are counted.

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer joined Al Hilal in exchange for 5.9 million euros (approximately N2.7 billion), eclipsing the previous record held by former Chelsea wing-back Victor Moses who moved to Spartak Moscow last summer for a fee of five million euros.