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.
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.
Will Still Confirms Joe Aribo’s Decision
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.
“From day one, we said as long as your head’s right and you want to be here, to fight for the club and the team, then you are welcome to be part of it.
“And I’ve got to say, since they’ve been back in training, they’ve been spot on. It’s a good thing for us [that they are back in contention].”
With just one year left on his contract, this means that the Super Eagles star is in his final season at Southampton, bar a contract extension.
Aribo will look to play an important role for the Saints this season and possibly help then gain Premier League promotion.