Former Manchester United academy graduate Joshua King has revealed the emotional turmoil he experienced after a potential return to Old Trafford fell through in January 2020.
At the time, United were in desperate need of a striker.
King, then at Bournemouth, had emerged as a strong candidate after an impressive season in which he scored 12 Premier League goals and registered three assists.
The Norwegian forward had become a reliable top-flight performer, and with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the helm, a reunion with his former club seemed within reach. However, negotiations ultimately hit a wall, leaving King devastated.
Speaking on NRK’s Bakrommet podcast, the now 33-year-old admitted the transfer saga was a major personal blow. “The dream was to play for United,” King said, as relayed by VG.
“Now United are struggling with a striker. They have a Norwegian coach who is interested. Put an offer on the table, and I came there for free. And then you say no to £25m.”
He added that then-manager Eddie Howe had expressed a willingness to let him go, but Bournemouth’s valuation proved to be the stumbling block. “He said: Joshua, I won’t stand in your way, but the club wants x number of millions.”
Instead of King, United completed a surprise deadline-day loan move for former Watford striker Odion Ighalo, a decision that left the Bournemouth man reeling.
“I just sat in the jacuzzi for two or three hours waiting for the phone,” he recalled. “I called Jim [Solbakken, his agent], who was working on that deal. And then I remember reading ‘Ighalo ready for United’. Then I was completely devastated. Then I was way down.”
King also stated that to this day, he does not know whether the collapse of the move came from Howe or the club’s board, but the experience convinced him it was time for a change.
“That was part of the reason why I wanted to leave Bournemouth and try a new chapter,” he explained.
Although the United transfer never materialised, King did eventually move on from the South Coast club in early 2021.
Since then, he has had spells at Everton, Watford and Turkish giants Fenerbahce. He currently plays in Ligue 1 with Toulouse.
The story adds to the growing list of near-misses and alternate timelines that surround United’s transfer history in recent years.
For King, it was a missed opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream. For United, it was a sliding-doors moment that could have rewritten part of their attacking blueprint under Solskjaer.
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Raj Dholakia
Raj is a seasoned digital writer and editor with a deep-seated passion for football. With over four years in the digital space, he has contributed to Sportlens, ManUtdNews, and is now proudly writing for The Peoples Person. His work is driven by a commitment to capture the essence of football, delivering content that speaks to the heart of fans worldwide.
