Joe Aribo departs Southampton: Three clubs that could sign 34-cap Super Eagles midfielder

EFL Championship side Southampton have confirmed that Super Eagles midfielder Joe Ayodele-Aribo will depart the club when his contract runs out at the end of this month, Afrik Foot reports.

The 29-year-old moved to St. Mary’s in 2022 from Rangers for €8.2m after reaching the UEFA Europa League final with the Gers, where they unfortunately lost to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Aribo was an integral part of Martin Russell’s Southampton side, playing over a century of games for the Saints before their relegation to the Championship in 2025.

Southampton then parted ways with Martin and hired Will Still to take over coaching duties, but the Belgian coach wasn’t a fan of the 34-cap Super Eagles midfielder, giving Aribo no playing time until he was sacked at the start of November.

Tonda Eckert was brought in to replace Will Still, and while the German was able to give Aribo a few appearances off the bench, the midfielder had his mind on playing elsewhere to gain rhythm and put his career back on track.

The ex-Charlton Athletic midfielder joined Leicester City on loan during the January transfer window, but was able to play just six games for the Foxes as they got demoted to Sky Bet League One.

With no intent of keeping him, Southampton confirmed Aribo will leave the club this summer.

We can confirm the list of released players from our Men’s First Team squad following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) June 12, 2026

“A fourth 2024 promotion winner to leave, Joe Aribo’s four-year stay at the club will also come to an end.

“Amassing 111 appearances in total, the Nigeria international appeared 40 times in 2023/24, scoring on four occasions to lift the club back to the top flight,” the club wrote on their official website.

Three clubs Joe Aribo can join after leaving Southampton

1. Rangers

Aribo played his best football in Glasgow, making 149 appearances, scoring 26 goals, and providing 25 assists.

He also won the Scottish double with the Gers, becoming a fan favourite after helping them to the 2022 Europa League final, where he scored.

With Rangers undergoing a squad rebuild, the experience of the Super Eagles midfielder could help in steadying newer faces, while bridging the emotional gap he already has with the fans at Ibrox.

2. Trabzonspor

Turkey has become a landing spot for Nigerian internationals. Victor Osimhen, Henry Onyekuru, Wilfred Ndidi, Chibuike Nwaiwu and Paul Onuachu have all made the switch to the Super Lig in recent years.

Aribo’s technical profile suits the Süper Lig, slower build-up, more positional freedom, and less physical intensity than in English football.

Trabzonspor, in particular, have shown willingness to gamble on experienced internationals and could use a versatile midfielder.

At 29, Aribo may need a league where his intelligence matters more than his athleticism, and the Turkish Super Lig offers that.

3. Al-Ettifaq FC

A Saudi switch has hovered around Aribo for over a year, with the midfielder considering the option last summer before choosing to continue at Southampton.

At 29, he is entering the age bracket where financial incentives take front seat in decision making, but that could come at the risk of sacrificing playing at the highest level, ultimately shutting the door on his Super Eagles career.

If the London-born midfielder still eyes a return to the Nigerian National team, a Saudi move might not be the best to take at this moment.