Lifelong Manchester United fan Odion Ighalo said he had no hesitation in taking a pay cut to complete his dream deadline-day switch to Old Trafford.
United were already short in attack following the summer departures of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku and a back injury sustained by Marcus Rashford, making a new striker a priority in the January transfer window.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked at a variety of options and eventually completed a late loan deal for ex-Watford striker Ighalo, who has joined until the end of the season from Shanghai Shenhua.
"I'm very happy," the Nigeria forward said. "First, I want say thank God for making this happen and it's just like a dream come true for me.
"People that know me, even back in Nigeria, and even when I was playing at Watford, my team-mates knew that I loved Man United, I support them. When I played against Man U, that emotion is there, because it is my dream.
"It is a nice reality, so I'm very happy and I'm looking forward to start."
Ighalo, 30, followed Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes into Old Trafford, with the forward calling his last-minute move "very dramatic", having been informed by his agent the day before of United's interest.
"From 11pm there was paperwork, negotiating and all that, for the loan deal and all that, so we are talking and other teams are calling them, wanting me," he said. "But I told my agent that this is what I want. I want to come here.
"He said 'you're going to get a pay cut to go to United'. I said I don't care. Make this deal happen. I want to go to United. I don't care how much is the pay cut, I know that, make it happen."
Ighalo, who will be the first Nigerian to play for Manchester United, said there had been huge excitement among his family and friends.
"It was crazy because, all over the news for the last few days, is about my deal to Man United," he said. "Even the street I grew up on, they are doing parties, celebrating Ighalo signing for United."
Solskjaer's side are currently seventh in the Premier League table, with United a huge 38 points behind runaway leaders and arch-rivals Liverpool.
Picture gallery: deadline day signings
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Odion Ighalo has joined Manchester United until the end of the season from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. AFP -
Bruno Fernandes joined Manchester United from Portuguese club Sporting for €55 million (Dh 224 million) rising to a possible €80 million two days before the January transfer window closed. Reuters -
Hull City's Jarrod Bowen joined West Ham for a fee of around £20 million. Reuters -
Arsenal signed Southampton's 28-year-old Portugal right-back Cedric Soares on a loan deal until the end of the season. Reuters -
Manchester City defender Angelino, who has made 12 appearances for Pep Guardiola's side in all competitions this season, joined Bundesliga high-flyers RB Leipzig on loan. Reuters -
Tottenham's Danny Rose goes joined Newcastle United on loan until the end of the season. AFP -
Real Madrid dismissed suggestions Gareth Bale could make a big-money return to Tottenham. EPA -
Olivier Giroud stayed put at Chelsea despite reports linking him with a move to Inter Milan. Reuters -
Nineteen-year-old defender Tariq Lamptey left Stamford Bridge, though, to join Brighton on a three-and-a-half-year deal. AFP -
Edinson Cavani will remain at Paris Saint-Germain until at least the summer after his expected move to Atletico Madrid fell through. AFP -
Wolves completed the signing of Rochdale's 17-year-old defender Luke Matheson but immediately loaned him back to the League One club. Reuters -
Ravel Morrison has left Sheffield United to join Middlesbrough on loan for the rest of the campaign. AFP -
Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham, right, moved to Sheffield Wednesday. Reuters -
Juventus midfielder Emre Can joined Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move. EPA -
Bournemouth signed winger Alex Dobre on loan from Wigan Athletic. Reuters -
Norwich City signed Sam McCallum, right, from Coventry City, although the 22-year-old defender will remain with the Sky Blues on loan for the remainder of the season. Reuters
