Joe Aribo is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Premier League side Southampton and the Nigeria national team.
Born and raised in England, Aribo’s football journey has seen him rise through the ranks of British football to become a highly reliable presence in the middle of the park for his club as well as the Super Eagles.
In this article, Footynaija.com brings you everything you need to know about the Southampton midfielder.
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Biography
Joseph Oluwaseyi Temitope Ayodele-Aribo was born on July 21, 1996 in Camberwell, England to Nigerian parents.
Aribo began his career at Kinetic Academy before joining Staines Town and competing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. He then moved to Charlton Athletic in September 2015 after a successful trial, signing a professional contract in May 2016.
Aribo played a key role in Charlton’s promotion push, scoring five league goals in 2017/2018 and finishing the 2018/2019 season with goals in each of the final three games. He also scored in the playoff semi-final win against Doncaster Rovers.
In the summer of 2019, Aribo signed with Rangers on a four-year deal. He notched seven goals in the 2020/2021 season, contributing to Rangers’ unbeaten league title. In the 2021/2022 season, Aribo played in 17 Europa League matches, scoring in the final against Eintracht Frankfurt as Rangers finished runners-up.
Aribo joined Premier League side Southampton in July 2022. He scored on his home debut against Leeds United, but the team was relegated at the end of the 2022/2023 season. In the 2023/2024 campaign, Aribo scored four goals in 49 appearances and helped Southampton win the Championship play-off final, earning promotion back to the Premier League.
On the international scene, Aribo received his first Nigeria call-up in August 2019 and scored on his debut in a 2–2 draw with Ukraine. He also netted in a 1–1 friendly against Brazil. Aribo featured in Nigeria’s 2021 AFCON campaign, playing in three group stage wins and the Round of 16 loss to Tunisia.
Joe Aribo’s Career Stats
Since making his senior debut in 2014, Aribo has recorded a total number of 402 appearances for club and country. The 28-year-old midfielder isn’t just all about the appearances though, as he also has an eye for goal with a total tally of 53 goals and 35 assists to his name at the time of writing. Below is a breakdown of his numbers;
Staines Town – 22 apps (0G, 0A)
Charlton Athletic – 97 apps (16G, 13A)
Rangers -apps (26G, 21A)
Souhampton – 102 apps (9G, 1A)
Joe Aribo’s Salary and Net Worth
Aribo signed with Southampton back in 2022 on a four-year deal that pays him £70,000 per week. This makes him the club’s joint second highest earner alongside Jan Bednarek.
His handsome weekly package sums up to £280,000 in one month and £3,640,000 annually. The 28-year-old’s net worth is estimated at £8,924,240 according to Salary Sport.
Joe Aribo’s Parents
While there isn’t a lot of publicly available information regarding Aribo’s parents, it is known that they are originally from Ondo State in Nigeria and belong to the Yoruba ethnic group. They moved to England in pursuit of better opportunities for their family.
Joe Aribo’s Girlfriend
Aribo’s relationship status is somewhat shrouded in mystery with the Nigeria international, managing to keep this part of his life quiet. Nevertheless, recent rumours have linked the Southampton star with Oklahoma-based corporate socialite Sydney Fikes.
Joe Aribo’s Transfer News
With Southampton set for a return to thjjqe EFL Championship after their relegation from the Premier League, we could potentially witness movement around Aribo’s future this summer. At the time of writing though, there are no updates regarding a potential move away from St. Mary’s.
Joe Aribo’s FC 25 Ratings
Aribo’s EA SPORTS FC 25 player card showcases his abilities as a dynamic central midfielder for Southampton and the Nigerian national team.
With an overall rating of 73, his standout attributes emphasize agility, balance, and stamina, making him a versatile option in midfield. Below are some of his key attributes.
Dribbling – 76
Agility: 79
Balance: 80
Ball Control: 75
Composure: 74
Physicality – 77
Stamina: 81
Strength: 78
Jumping: 80
Aggression: 69
