When Joshua King looks back on January 2020, one moment still stings, the day his dream return to Manchester United slipped away, replaced by the arrival of Odion Ighalo, Footynaija reports.
King, who began his career at Old Trafford as a 16-year-old, had emerged as a serious target for United during a difficult season for the club. At the time, the Norwegian forward was enjoying a productive spell with AFC Bournemouth, where he scored 53 goals in 184 appearances. With United searching for attacking reinforcements under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, a fairytale return appeared within reach.
But the move never materialised. Bournemouth held firm on their valuation, reportedly rejecting a £25 million bid, and United turned elsewhere. That decision would define the narrative of King’s career, and elevate Ighalo into one of the most memorable short-term signings in the club’s modern history.
Odion Ighalo: “I took a pay cut to join Manchester United but I didn’t care.
“My agent told me Man Utd wanted a back-up striker. They had 4 options [in the market]. I was the 3rd option. I started praying against those options so that they won’t work.” pic.twitter.com/o0Nj6I5aEU
— Kyama ⚽ (@ElijahKyama_) March 7, 2025
“The dream was to play for United,” King said, via the Mirror. “Now United are struggling with a striker. They have a Norwegian coach who is interested. Put an offer on the table, and I came there for free. And then you say no to £25m.”
What followed was a painful waiting game. “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.”
While King was left to process the disappointment, Ighalo seized his opportunity. A lifelong United fan, the Nigerian striker took a pay cut to complete a loan move from Shanghai Shenhua, becoming the first Nigerian to represent the club. Though his Premier League impact was limited, his five goals in 19 appearances, including memorable strikes in the Europa League and FA Cup, ensured he left a lasting impression.
More than just goals, Ighalo’s spell carried emotional weight. At a time of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, his passion and visible love for the badge resonated deeply with supporters. It was a story of fulfilment, a boyhood dream realised against the odds.
For King, however, it remains a story of what might have been. “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.”
King, who has 20 goals in 62 appearances for Norway, left Bournemouth for Everton in 2021.
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