Tag: Joe Aribo

Joe Aribo has expressed excitement after completing a loan move to Leicester City from Southampton for the remainder of the Championship season.

The 29-year-old Nigerian midfielder said he was eager to return to regular football after a difficult spell with limited game time.

Aribo praised Leicester’s facilities and described the club as an ideal environment to rediscover his best form.

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Known for his versatility, Aribo revealed he is comfortable playing in multiple positions across midfield and attack and hopes to contribute goals as well as creativity.

He added that the move represents an opportunity to prove himself again and make a strong impact for the Foxes.

Joe Aribo’s future has been up in the air due to Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League last season.

Southampton coach Will Still has confirmed that Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo will stay at the club this season, Soccernet.ng reports.

Following Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League last season, there was a mass exodus of players in the summer.

Paul Onuachu, Mateus Fernandes, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Tyler Dibbling, Jan Bednarek, and Kyle Walker-Peters are just some players who left the club in the summer transfer window.

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Aribo was expected to join the exit train, amid speculations of interest from clubs like Villarreal, RB Leipzig, Besiktas, and Rangers.

The 27-year-old even missed Southampton’s first four games of the season, with coach Still stating that he was yet to decide on his future.

However, Aribo has now made a decision to stay at Southampton until at least the end the season.

According to Saints Extra, Southampton coach Will Still confirmed that Joe Aribo joined the rest of his Saints teammates on Thursday.

 “Yes, they’re (Aribo and edozie) back in the squad. We all know what the transfer window is like. They had options, they had opportunities that didn’t quite materialise and didn’t quite happen,” Still said.

Nigerian midfielder Joe Aribo may get a long-awaited move away from English Championship outfit Southampton, with Spanish La Liga outfit Villarreal set to battle it out with German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig for his services for the upcoming season.

He arrived on the south coast in the summer of 2022 and struggled to vmake an impact owing to his bit-part role.

However, the 2024/25 campaign saw the Super Eagles star make 32 top-flight appearances for the Saints, scoring three goals, but it was insufficient in the end as the modest club suffered relegation to the second-tier.

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Spanish club Villarreal is now interested in signing Joe Aribo, a Nigerian midfielder currently playing for Southampton, joining RB Leipzig in the race to get his signature. This comes two years after Villarreal sold another Nigerian player, Samuel Chukwueze, to AC Milan.

Aribo, who has one year left on his Southampton contract, is likely to leave the club this summer. Since Southampton was relegated from the Premier League, several European teams have shown strong interest in him.

The 28-year-old wants to move away from the English Championship and return to playing top-level football.

Trabzonspor, a top Turkish club, are also reportedly interested and have contacted Southampton about a possible deal.

Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo hailed their character for Saturday’s win at Ipswich Town.

Aribo was on the score sheet in a genuine relegation six-pointer.

“For us it’s an amazing feeling,” said Aribo to the club’s website, “really important for us to get that result. We knew how big that game was and we had to fight and you saw us fighting and it was just amazing to get that result.

“I think it just shows the character of the boys, how together we are, how much we’re willing to fight for each other. You know, we can’t do this individually, we’ve got to fight together and that’s all you have to do in the upcoming games.

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“(The late winner) was a massive relief because I was in the left centre back and as I’m running over, I’m trying to sprint, but I’ve got nothing left in my legs and just I’m jogging with my hands out. So yeah, it was an amazing feeling.

“I’m more willing to do anything to get us over the line. We have to fight together again. So if I’ve got to go into a position that I’m not familiar with, then I’m going to have to just do it to the best of my ability.”

On the away support, Aribo added: “They’re always with us whenever we go away, they’re always singing regardless of results, regardless of performances. And it’s so important to have an amazing feeling, honestly.”