Nigerian Midfielder, Oluwseyi Joseph Signs 4-Year Deal With Rangers

 

Rangers beat Arsenal to signed Nigerian descent Joseph Oluwaseyi Temitope Ayodele-Aribo on a four-year deal until 2022 season.

The 22-year-old midfielder made 97 appearances and scored 16 goals for Charlton and helped them win promotion to the Championship last term through the playoffs has been linked with possible moves to Arsenal, Manchester City, Celtic as well as teams in France, Germany and Portugal before he agreed on terms and a move to Ibrox Stadium.

Aribo who plays as an attacking midfielder, started his career at Staines Town, impressing to win their academy Player of the Year Award in 2014 and be offered a trial at Charlton.

Speaking about his new signing manager Steven Gerrard told the club official website saying: "There were a lot of clubs in for Joe around Europe, in the Premier League and the Championship. There was a lot of interest in him but for me it’s just another top player joining Rangers.

"He’s mobile, dynamic, can burst past a player and create and score goals. There is room for him to develop but he’ll give us something we’ve not got in the midfield department.

"He’s left-footed, which is something we don’t have in our midfield at the moment so he’ll give us more balance. We have a good midfield but currently we don’t have a player with Joe’s characteristics.

"He is tall, athletic and quick. He’s a box-to-box player and is not afraid to open the door when he gets around the box and he can unlock defences.

"We’re confident we can turn Joe into an even better player and I’m really looking forward to working with him.

"He’s still young and we firmly believe there is a lot to come from him, but we need to be patient in order to allow him to continue his development and to improve as a player with the club.”

Rangers have signed Sheyi Ojo, Steven Davis, Jordan Jones, Jake Hastie and Greg Stewart already this summer will begin their season in the Europa League next month and will face either Prishtina or St Joseph's in the first qualifying round first leg on 11 July.