25-year-old Nigeria national team midfielder Joe Aribo completed a transfer to English Premier League side Southampton FC from Scottish Premiership side Rangers FC on Saturday ahead of the 2022-23 season. Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl praised Aribo’s energy, creativity and versatility following the move and Aribo described the transfer as “a dream come true”. Aribo joins for a fee of £6 million that could rise to £10 million with additional fees being considered.
Southampton will be looking to improve on a disappointing 15th place position in the 2021-22 season that saw the team drift dangerously close to the relegation zone. Aribo is coming off the best season of his career with Rangers, making 57 appearances in all competitions with 9 goals and 8 assists including a goal in the UEFA Europa League final. The English-born Aribo was previously at Charlton Athletic in England’s third tier where he featured regularly over three seasons from 2016 to 2019.
