Tuesday 31 January 2017 21:25, UK
Odion Ighalo has thanked Watford supporters after completing his move to the Chinese Super League.
Ighalo moved to Changchun Yatai on Tuesday for a fee Sky sources believe to be £20m, after two-and-a-half years at Vicarage Road.
"A special thanks to Watford fans, who I really hold dearly in my heart because they supported me since the very first day I came to this club to the last day," Ighalo told Sky Sports News HQ.
"Even when things weren't going well for me they were still there chanting my name beside me. Though things don't always go the way you want in life you have to keep moving and working hard."
Nigeria international Ighalo arrived at the club initially on loan from Grenada in 2014, plundering in 20 goals as the club was promoted from the Championship to the Premier League.
Ighalo then took the top division by storm in his maiden Premier League campaign, registering 15 goals as the Hornets finished 13th.
Such was his form last season, Sky sources understood that Watford rejected a £37.5m bid from Shanghai SIPG in July 2016.
This season has been a different proposition for Ighalo, though, with the striker scoring just once in 17 league games.
"Some of them [Watford fans] were not happy because the goals did not come as they want," Ighalo added. "I can understand them because I've done it in the past and they want to see it again.
"I'm sorry for that and I'm sorry it didn't work out the way it should be but I'm really happy to have been associated with this Watford family and wherever I go, to China or wherever, I'm still going to hold the fans dearly to my heart because they have always been there for me.
"Thanks to Watford fans for the great support, they will always be in my heart wherever I go."
