Watford have completed the permanent signing of Udinese loanee Odion Ighalo on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Ighalo, 25, only joined the Hornets on a season-long loan deal from the Pozzo-owned club in July and has since made ten league and cup appearances, scoring three goals.

The Nigerian striker had previously spent four seasons on loan at sister club Granada, helping El Grana win promotion to the top tier of Spanish football.

Ighalo began his professional career in Nigeria with Prime before joining Julius Berger.

A switch to Norwegian side Lyn followed in 2007 and after nine goals in 20 outings across two seasons, Ighalo moved to Italy to join Udinese.

Used sparingly at Udinese in his first season, Ighalo joined Granada on loan for the 2009/10 campaign and netted 17 times to help the Andaluscian side to promotion.

Returning the following year, the former Nigerian Under-20 cap scored five times as Granada completed back-to-back promotions to reach La Liga.

A brief stint with Serie A outfit Cesena in 2010 proved unsuccessful and Ighalo returned to Los Carmenes to score 12 league goals in his next three seasons as Granada retained their top-flight status.