After three high-profile seasons with Glasgow Rangers, Joe Aribo has arrived in the Premier League. The 25-year-old Nigerian has signed a four-year contract with Southampton. He is looking forward to this new challenge.
Joe Aribo is returning to his native England. Born in London on 21 July 1996, the Nigerian international had to go into exile to establish and make a name for himself. Before landing in Scotland in 2019 and making three great seasons with the Glasgow Blues, the 25-year-old midfielder had indeed only known League One, the 3rd English division. With Southampton signing him on a four-year deal, he will now discover the Premier League after having gained experience on Scottish and even European pitches.
"The Premier League has always been a goal
The Nigerian returns with a good track record. He won the Scottish league title and the national cup and reached the Europa League final last season. With this great experience, Joe Aribo feels ready for his new challenge in England. "The Premier League is the best league in the world. I have been watching it since I was a young boy. It's always been a goal for me to play here and show what I can do on this stage. It's an incredible feeling, a dream come true. This is where I've wanted to be since I was a kid growing up playing, so to say I'm here now is really exciting," he says.
"Joe Aribo can bring his energy to us."
The Saints are also delighted to have attracted a midfielder who has grown up well. Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl is delighted with his versatility. "We think Joe Aribo can bring energy and creativity to our side. Being comfortable in a number of different positions is very useful for a manager and shows that he has a high level of footballing intelligence, with the ability to accept new information quickly. He has already played a lot of games in his career, at a very high level, and his performances in the Europa League prove that he has the quality to play in the Premier League. He is eager to show everyone that he can do it," said the Austrian coach.
