Yakubu happy at Reading and hopes to end career in England
Last updated on .From the section Football
Former Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Nigeria striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni says he is enjoying life at Reading and hopes to end his career in England.
The 32-year-old, who has a total of 114 league goals across spells at five English clubs, joined the Championship club on transfer deadline day until the end of the season.
He came off the bench to score his first goal for Reading and secured an FA Cup fifth-round victory at Derby on Valentine's Day.
Despite his FA Cup heroics, Yakubu says it is the way people at the club have helped him settle back into life in England that delights him most.
"Since I came here I've loved every moment and all the people here are fantastic," Yakubu told BBC Sport.
"To score an important goal in the FA Cup was good, but it would not have been possible without the lads, staff and fans.
"It's an environment that makes you feel very welcome so I'm really enjoying it at Reading."
Yakubu is the second-highest African and highest Nigerian goal-scorer in Premier League history, with a total of 96 goals compared to Didier Drogba's 101.
In his last season in England with then-Premier League side Blackburn he scored 18 goals in 33 appearances.
But Yakubu, who received big offers from the MLS, UAE and Europe in January, felt the chance to return to English football was too good to turn down.
"It was a great opportunity to return to this country because I have never played in front of my kids," he said.
"It's a fantastic chance and being reunited with the family has also helped me a lot.
"I just want to keep giving my best to Reading, enjoy every moment and hopefully finish my career in England."
Yakubu joined Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F in June 2012, scoring 25 goals in 45 appearances before switching to Qatari club Al Rayyan in January 2014.
Over a 12-year international career, Yakubu made 58 appearances scoring 21 goals for Nigeria and featured in the squad for the 2010 World Cup.
