The birthday boy is obviously a step above Saudi football, but can he still thrive playing high-level action in Europe?
Was Odion Ighalo’s instant impact and subsequent success at Al Shabab really surprising?
The Nigerian’s had an impressive time since signing for the Saudi outfit at the turn of the year after a mildly successful stint at Manchester United and ended the campaign as the club’s joint-second top scorer.
Ighalo’s raw numbers make for fascinating viewing: nine goals in 13 appearances, with only 10 of those being starts. His return came from an average of just 65 minutes on the pitch, with a frequency of a goal every 94 minutes.