Former Nigerian footballer Brown Ideye recently shared an interesting story about his move to the Chinese Super League team, Tianjin TEDA. Speaking on Wednesday, Ideye revealed how his wife reacted when she saw the proposed salary and bonuses offered by the Chinese club.
Ideye, who was then playing for Greek club Olympiacos, said he had not originally planned to play in China. However, when his club received an attractive offer from Tianjin TEDA, they couldn’t refuse. His agent then negotiated his salary and bonuses with the Chinese team. When Ideye saw the lucrative terms of the deal, he immediately informed his wife.
“When I saw the long numbers and told my wife, na she pack my luggage for me to leave the next day LOL…” he shared on his X.com account.
Despite the financial appeal, Ideye admitted that his experience in China was far from easy. In a 2019 interview with The PUNCH, he recalled being treated unfairly and forced to train with the youth team despite not violating any rules.
He also faced difficulties adjusting to the new environment, culture, and language. “I don’t pray for any footballer to go through all that I experienced this past one year in China,” he lamented.
The former West Bromwich Albion player also acknowledged that injuries and cultural differences affected his performance in both England and China. After struggling in the Premier League and failing to impress in China, Ideye reflected on the challenges that come with adapting to new leagues and the high expectations placed on foreign players.
