Joe Aribo Moves to Leicester City on Loan from Southampton

Leicester City has finalized a loan agreement for Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo from Southampton until the conclusion of the current season.

The 29-year-old player arrives at the King Power Stadium to provide depth to Leicester's midfield, which has been affected by injuries to Jordan James and Aaron Ramsey, both out until March. Additionally, Hamza Choudhury is scheduled for a scan this week to assess a potentially serious knee injury.

Aribo's previous tenure at Southampton saw him make 111 appearances across four seasons in both the Premier League and the Sky Bet Championship.

In a statement to Foxes Hub after the transfer, Aribo expressed his excitement, stating, “For me, it’s amazing to have got it done and I just can’t wait to get going. I’ve always known the squad is good. I’m so certain about where we can get to and what we can do together. It’s just good to be a part of it.”

A product of Camberwell in England, Aribo commenced his football career with Staines Town in 2014, where he consistently played in the Isthmian League before moving to Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2015.

He quickly became a crucial member of Charlton’s first team during the 2016/17 season. His impressive performances caught the attention of Rangers, leading to his transfer in 2019.

While at Rangers, Aribo participated in 149 matches in all competitions, netting 26 goals. His tenure included a Scottish Premiership title win in 2020/21, lifting the Scottish Cup in 2021/22, and competing in over 40 European matches.

Notably, he scored in the UEFA Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, although Rangers ultimately lost the match on penalties in Seville.

On the national front, Aribo has represented Nigeria 34 times. His debut for the Super Eagles came in a friendly against Ukraine in August 2019, and he was part of the squad that earned the runners-up position at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in Côte d'Ivoire.