By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Spanish side Villarreal have entered the growing list of suitors for Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo, whose future remains uncertain following Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League last season.
Aribo, currently contracted to Southampton for one more year, has been linked with a possible return to Rangers in Scotland as well as interest from Turkish clubs.
Despite speculation, the midfielder has yet to indicate a clear desire to leave the Championship club, but Southampton are reportedly open to selling as they look to balance the books.
With financial pressures mounting, the Saints are keen to offload Aribo and generate funds ahead of the new season.
Villarreal are reportedly eager to secure the midfield ace before the transfer window closes but have yet to initiate official talks, which sources say are expected in the coming days.
Valued at around €6 million, Southampton are said to be willing to accept a reduced fee to expedite a sale, prioritizing a swift transfer before the season kicks off.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
