Spanish club Villarreal are now interested in signing Joe Aribo, a Nigerian midfielder currently playing for Southampton, joining RB Leipzig in the race to get his signature. This comes two years after Villarreal sold another Nigerian player, Samuel Chukwueze, to AC Milan.
Aribo, who has one year left on his Southampton contract, is likely to leave the club this summer. Since Southampton were relegated from the Premier League, several European teams have shown strong interest in him.
The 28-year-old wants to move away from the English Championship and return to playing top-level football.
Leipzig Make First Move
According to reports, RB Leipzig have already made a €10 million offer for Aribo. The Nigerian international, who has played 34 times for his country and scored 2 goals, is valued for his versatility and experience in European competitions.
But now Villarreal have entered the race, making things more competitive for Leipzig. Villarreal are said to be seriously interested in bringing Aribo to La Liga.
Aribo Could Return to Familiar Ground
Aribo had a strong spell in Europe with Rangers, including scoring in the 2022 Europa League final. A move to Spain could suit him well as he looks to restart his career at a higher level.
Sources close to Aribo say he is not happy at Southampton and wants to join a club with European football and a clear plan for the future.
Other Clubs Also Interested
There were rumours about a return to Rangers, but that seems unlikely due to financial issues and changes under their new manager Russell Martin.
Trabzonspor, a top Turkish club, are also reportedly interested and have contacted Southampton about a possible deal.
No official statement has been made by the player or the clubs yet, but with interest from Spain, Germany, and Turkey, Joe Aribo could soon be back playing in top-flight football.