From almost quitting football to the Premier League – Aribo narrates his experience

Joe Aribo has gotten his first opportunity to play in the Premier League after signing for Southampton from Rangers

It’s still surreal how the last few years have panned out for the former Charlton man as he moved from almost quitting football to the Premier League.

After beginning the game without an academy, and having to train in Sunday League teams, luck soon shone on Aribo as he trained with Staines where he combined school and football.

He would have been in the university if he didn’t play professionally but the Super Eagles star said formal education has never been a desire he earnestly nurtured.

Narrating his experience and journey to the Premier League, he said; “I wasn’t playing any football for any team. I didn’t know what I was going to do in terms of football, and then I saw one of my old teammates that I was with in Under 16 level. He was at Staines, obviously doing the college system and was like, ah, I’ll get you a trial.”

“He said you might just come down and play. I literally just went. I did well in my trials. Now I’m playing for Staines Town and I was going to Kingston College. It was that a course where you do both, ” he narrated how his journey to professional football started.

Aribo went from almost quitting football to playing professionally. He joined Rangers under Steven Gerrard and helped the Gers win their 55th Scottish title.

He has since played for the Super Eagles and featured at the AFCON. He also scored in the final of the Europa League, an experience he said he couldn’t process.