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Southampton system 'perfect' for Joe Aribo - Youth football expert
We’re delighted to welcome the founder of Kinetic Academy Harry Hudson as our exclusive columnist. Each week the youth football expert will be giving his views on the biggest talking points on wonderkids across the UK…
Southampton announced the signing of Nigerian international midfielder Joe Aribo on 9 July and Harry Hudson knows all about him.
Aribo began his career at the Kinetic Academy which Hudson founded in 2011 and from there he earned his first professional contract at Charlton Athletic.
Some good performances there earned him a £350,000 move to Rangers where he became integral to the Light Blues’ side and scored in the Europa League final of 2022 as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side fell just short of the mark, losing on penalties.
His move to Southampton for £6million, rising to £10million with add-ons, is the big move he has been waiting for and Hudson believes he has picked the perfect place to go.
“I think it’s a really good platform for Aribo,” Hudson said exclusively to The Football Wonderkids. “Southampton are a developing club and they’re going to give him a platform to play.
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“The 4-2-2-2 box system that they play is perfect for him and it’s similar to what he would have played in for Rangers.
“There’s no reason why Aribo can’t go and cement a starting place there and play week in week out because the concern for any player who moves is that they can continue playing and if Aribo had gone to a different club with a different ethos then maybe it could have been more challenging for him.
“I think it’s a really good environment for him and the right move.”
The Nigerian signed a four-year deal at St Mary’s and could face fellow Kinetic Academy graduate Omar Richards this season who has completed a move to Nottingham Forest.
In other Southampton news, Ralph Hasenhuttl is keen to add some firepower to his strikeforce and has identified this England youth international as the man for him.