Joe Aribo continues to sit out of the match-day squad for Southampton F.C. despite the start of the 2025-26 Championship campaign, a situation addressed by manager Will Still ahead of the clash with Swansea City A.F.C.

Still revealed that Aribo, who made 37 appearances and scored three goals last season, was absent from selection because he missed much of pre-season training and “has not yet done enough in training to merit a place in the team.”

The was heavily linked with a move away from St Mary’s during the summer transfer window however, no deal materialised and Aribo remains on the club’s books.
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Still added “They’re still with us but they’ve missed a whole chunk of pre-season, and we have to be fair and honest with everyone … but you’ve got to make them decisions.”
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Aribo has yet to feature in any competitive fixture in the current campaign, and with the January transfer window looming, he may now be looking at regaining full fitness or securing a move to revitalise his career.
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Editorial

When a player of Joe Aribo’s profile consistent, dependable and once a key figure sits out matches, the reasons run deeper than mere selection. In his case, the combination of a failed summer move and a truncated pre-season could be symptomatic of wider issues: fitness, focus and club-player alignment.
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Southampton’s stance, as articulated by Will Still, is uncompromising: no matter the reputation, performance in training and readiness still matters. This is not about punishment