Brown Ideye Reveals How His Wife packed his bags After Seeing China’s Salary
On Wednesday, Brown Ideye, a former Nigerian footballer, shared an interesting anecdote about his move to China with the Chinese Super League team, Tianjin TEDA. Ideye, who is now 36 years old, disclosed how his wife’s reaction was directly influenced by the financial terms of his contract with TEDA.
Ideye, who had not initially intended to play in China, found his perspective shifting when he was presented with the financial offer from TEDA. The monetary incentives offered by the club played a significant role in changing his plans. He recounted the experience on his X.com account, revealing that upon sharing the details of his proposed salary and bonuses with his wife, she promptly began preparing for his departure.
In his post, Ideye wrote, “I hadn’t planned on moving to China, but when Olympiacos received an offer from TEDA that they couldn’t refuse, my agent worked out the terms of my salary and bonuses with them. When I saw the impressive figures and shared them with my wife, she immediately packed my bags and got me ready to leave the next day, LOL…”
Reflecting on his time in China during an interview in 2019, Ideye described the experience as incredibly challenging. He spoke about being relegated to training with the youth team despite not violating any rules. Ideye expressed his hope that no other footballer would have to endure what he went through during his year in China. He acknowledged the difficulties he faced but expressed gratitude for moving past that period and focusing on his current club.
“It was a tough period, but I had to maintain my physical fitness and mental resilience. It wasn’t my preference to be in that situation, but the club (Tianjin TEDA) made their decision, and I had to respect it,” Ideye explained.
Ideye also attributed his underwhelming performances at both West Bromwich Albion and Tianjin TEDA to injuries and cultural adjustments. After a standout stint with Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv, where he scored 45 goals in 106 appearances, Ideye transferred to West Brom for a club-record fee of £10 million in 2014. Unfortunately, his time at West Brom was less successful, with only seven goals in 37 matches.
His struggles continued when he moved to Tianjin TEDA from Olympiacos. Ideye noted, “One issue I faced in China was the rule requiring a team reshuffle every six months. When I arrived, I struggled with the language barrier, the unfamiliar cuisine, and overall adjustment to the Chinese league. Despite the high expectations from fans and the team, the management believed I was not meeting their standards. They eventually brought in a new player for my position and loaned me out.”
Ideye’s reflections on his contract with Tianjin TEDA might resonate with current discussions surrounding Victor Osimhen, another Super Eagles striker. The parallels between their experiences highlight the significant impact that contract terms and club decisions can have on a player’s career trajectory.
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