Super Eagles midfielder edges closer to Saints exit after limited game time.
Nigeria international Joe Aribo is on course to leave Championship side Southampton ahead of the January transfer deadline, as the Saints continue to reshape their squad.
Southampton remain active in the market, particularly in attack, with head coach Tonda Eckert keen to trim the squad size before the 7pm deadline on Monday, February 2. Several players have struggled for regular minutes, and Aribo is among those now available for transfer.
The former Rangers midfielder, alongside Sam Edozie, was placed on the transfer list last summer, but potential moves failed to materialise. This time, however, discussions appear to be progressing.
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Speaking on the situation, Eckert admitted talks are ongoing:
“There’s conversations going on at the moment. It needs to make sense for the player first, but obviously also for the club.”
He added:
“There are some good conversations taking place at the moment… I think the conversations are now heading in a good direction.”
Limited Role This Season
Aribo has made just seven Championship appearances this season, a sharp contrast to his influence in previous campaigns. His reduced role also saw him left out of Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 squad in Morocco, though he was part of the Super Eagles side that reached the final of AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire.
With time running out in the January window, a Southampton exit now looks increasingly likely, as Aribo searches for regular football and a fresh start elsewhere.
