Peter Odemwingie explains controversial West Brom exit and move to Cardiff City

Former Nigeria forward Peter Odemwingie has explained why he wanted to leave West Bromwich Albion in 2013, despite Cardiff City being regarded as a smaller club at the time.

Odemwingie’s time at West Brom ended after a controversial attempt to join Queens Park Rangers during the January 2013 transfer window. The proposed move collapsed on transfer deadline day, leading to the striker being punished by the Baggies before he was eventually restored to the first-team squad.

He left the club several months later, joining Cardiff City in a transfer reportedly worth about £2.25m. Odemwingie has now reflected on the circumstances surrounding his departure and described an incident in the dressing room that contributed to tensions with some of his team-mates.

The former Lille forward moved to West Brom in the summer of 2010 after leaving Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow. He signed an initial two-year contract after establishing himself as one of Lokomotiv’s most important players.

Odemwingie made an immediate impression in the Premier League, scoring on his debut as West Bromwich Albion beat Sunderland 1-0. His performances during his first season earned him a contract extension and attracted interest from a number of other clubs.

Juventus and Wigan Athletic were among those linked with the Nigerian forward. West Bromwich Albion rejected an offer from Wigan Athletic before offering Odemwingie a new deal, underlining his importance to the team at that stage.

His progress was later disrupted by a series of injury setbacks. Other incidents also affected his relationship with the club and eventually led him to push for a transfer during the January 2013 window.

Queens Park Rangers were interested in signing him, and Odemwingie made clear that he wanted to move to Loftus Road. The transfer did not happen, however, in circumstances that generated considerable controversy on deadline day.

After the failed move, West Bromwich Albion imposed disciplinary action on Odemwingie. He was later reinstated and returned to the team, but his future at the club remained uncertain. Cardiff City subsequently secured his services later in 2013.

Odemwingie said the dispute with some team-mates stemmed from an incident following West Brom’s 2-0 defeat by Everton. He had a heated exchange with goalkeeper Ben Foster after the match, although Odemwingie insisted that comments he was accused of making were not words he had actually used.

He believes his remarks were misunderstood and that the incident later created problems inside the dressing room. The disagreement became part of the wider tension surrounding his final months at West Brom.

The three-time AFCON bronze medallist continued his career with Cardiff City after leaving the Baggies. He later played for Stoke City, Bristol City, Rotherham United and Madura United in Indonesia.

Odemwingie ended his playing career in 2018. His departure from West Brom, particularly the failed move to Queens Park Rangers, remains one of the most controversial episodes of his career.