Joe Aribo, who only featured seven times for parent club Southampton this season, and not at all since December, has joined fellow Championship club Leicester City on loan.
The 29-year-old midfielder, who joined Southampton in 2022, making 111 appearances for the club, will join the Foxes until the end of the season.
Leicester, a club not currently in the position to spend on transfers, will rely on loaning in players on deadline day – Aribo is one of these, as is Manchester City youngster Divine Mukasa.
Is Joe Aribo’s move to Leicester one that makes sense, or is this another silly panic signing for the Foxes?
Joe Aribo has been a decent servant for Southampton Football Club since joining in 2022, and, until this season, has regularly been a solid performer.
The Nigerian will bring a wealth of experience to Leicester’s side. The former Rangers midfielder scored in the 2021/22 Europa League Final, and was part of the Southampton team to win promotion from the Championship at Wembley in 2023/24.
A versatile player, Aribo has played from centre back under Ivan Juric, to as a false nine at times under Ralph Hassenhuttl at Southampton. But the 29-year-old has become accustomed to taking the position of the bench at St Mary’s; clearly, now is the time for both parties to part.
In recent times, Aribo has struggled on the rare occasion that he has played for Southampton, and is not currently match-fit by any means.
The Foxes faithful will have to give the midfielder time to get up to speed, which could take some time. When fit-and-ready, Aribo is a very capable Championship professional.
The Nigerian’s Southampton contract runs out this summer, so a successful spell in Leicester could mean the Foxes approach the player for a free transfer in July.
Aribo’s stint at Leicester could go either way, but it seems a risk-free signing, and one that makes sense for both parties, fulfilling the needs of both clubs at this stage in the season.
