This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.
After years of turmoil for Rangers, it is finally starting to feel as if they are nearly back to where they belong – fighting for titles at the top of Scotland’s game.
There’s no doubt that Steven Gerrard has been able to take them to another level since he joined. With the Gers obviously having to rise up from Scottish League Two, it hasn’t been an easy ride to get them back to comfortably at least second-best in Scotland – something Pedro Caixinha, Graeme Murty and Jimmy Nicholl couldn’t achieve with their spells – but Gerrard has done that and closed the gap on Celtic quicker than many could have expected.
A key part of that is the calibre of player the former England captain has been able to attract, as discussed by the Daily Record in the past. His reputation within the game is obviously unquestionable – and that clout has helped bring through better quality at the club.
A good example of this would be Joe Aribo. Despite being urged by his former boss in Lee Bowyer to consider options better than the SPL, the midfielder still decided to come to Ibrox and he has already been rewarded for that move with international caps for Nigeria.
Last season, the box-to-box midfielder was a huge part of Charlton’s promotion campaign. Featuring 39 times overall in the league, he managed to score 10 goals from midfield as well as register five assists. This kind of form didn’t go unnoticed as many teams from around Europe, the Championship and the Premier League were interested, as the Ibrox boss says within this interview.
As Aribo’s contract had expired at Charlton, the club only had to pay a reported £300k (via the Scotsman) – a cross-border development fee – which, with the Nigerian only playing 23 games, already looks like money well worth spending.
Since joining, Aribo has been able to carry on the form from his time in South London and has been able to replicate it in Glasgow. So far, he has played 23 games, scoring five times and assisting three, while also grabbing plaudits alike.
Battling for places with fellow midfielders Steven Davis, Glen Kamara and Ryan Jack, he has had to be at the top of his game to get picked and is clearly benefitting from the competition involved with getting in the team.
His performances have caught the eye of ex-professionals, including the former director of the Nigerian FA and England international John Fashanu, who says that Aribo is going to be a “very important player for Nigeria”, via the Daily Record.
At just 23, Joe Aribo has already proven to be a stroke of genius by Gerrard given his performances for the Gers. Not only that, but considering he cost just £300k and is constantly improving, he could prove to be profitable if the club eventually look to sell him or if he looks to move on, with his value already being at £450k by Transfermarkt.
How much is Aribo worth? Join the discussion by commenting below…
