English Premier League

Super Eagles Midfielder Joe Aribo Leaves Southampton After Four-Year Stint

Published

4 days ago

2:28 pm

Nigeria midfielder Joe Aribo has officially parted ways with Southampton following the expiration of his contract, bringing his four-year stay at St Mary’s Stadium to an end.

The Nigerian international, who joined Southampton from Rangers in the summer of 2022, departs after experiencing both promotion and relegation with the club during an eventful spell on England’s south coast.

Aribo’s final season proved to be a frustrating one, as the 29-year-old struggled for regular game time in Southampton’s Championship campaign. He made just seven appearances for the Saints, accumulating only 111 minutes on the pitch.

Seeking more opportunities, the versatile midfielder secured a loan move to Leicester City during the January transfer window. However, the switch failed to provide the breakthrough he was hoping for.

At Leicester, Aribo found playing time equally difficult to come by, managing only one start and a total of 130 minutes across all competitions. His stint at the King Power Stadium coincided with a disappointing season for the Foxes, who ultimately suffered relegation.

Southampton confirmed Aribo’s departure as part of a list of players released following the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign.

With the summer transfer window now open, the former Rangers star will be eager to secure a new club where he can enjoy regular first-team football and revive his career.

A successful move could be crucial for Aribo as he aims to regain top form ahead of the 2026/27 season and strengthen his chances of remaining a key figure in the Super Eagles setup.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.

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