Southampton player is worth his eye-watering weekly pay following crucial moment against Birmingham City

Joe Aribo is supposedly Saints’ top earner, but St Andrews triumph may be worth every penny.

Last Saturday at St Andrews, it was a case of cometh the hour, cometh the multi-million dollar man, as Joe Aribo scored in stoppage time to give Southampton a 4-3 triumph over Birmingham City.

A topsy-turvy game saw both teams come from behind at times during the 90 minutes, with Juninho Bacuna’s shot leveling matters with just over ten minutes to play and appearing to award the ten-man hosts a point as the seconds ticked away.

But deep into injury time, Saints’ reputed top earner this season demonstrated why he is getting the big bucks by slamming in a late winner and keeping hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League alive.

Joe Aribo’s weekly wage
With so many bonuses and incentives in players’ contracts these days, it’s impossible to tell exactly what individuals on the field receive in their bank accounts each month, but Capology gives it a shot and breaks down the Southampton squad.

Aribo joined St Mary’s from Scottish side Rangers in the summer of 2022, and he is claimed to earn £70,000 per week on the south coast, more than any of his teammates.

That translates to £3,640,000 per year, highlighting Southampton’s budget in comparison to many other teams in the division, with Stuart Armstrong, Jan Bednarek, Adam Armstrong, and Alex McCarthy among the other players claimed to make £50,000 or more per week in Russell Martin’s squad.

In comparison, Jamie Vardy is claimed to be the league’s highest earner at £140,000 per week for promotion rivals Leicester City, with the Foxes’ team accounting for seven of the top eight wage packets and Aribo ranking ninth.

It may appear to be a large sum on paper, but if he continues to appear in the right places at the right times, he may earn far more for his team by the end of the season, with a lucrative return to England’s top flight at risk.

Southampton are currently in a four-way battle for the top two Championship slots, with fellow demoted teams Leicester City and Leeds United also hoping for just one season in the EFL, and Ipswich Town seeking for back-to-back promotions.

Every point will be important in the final stretch, and Aribo’s two points in the Midlands have put his team in contention for the top two automatic places, albeit they will need to capitalise on any slip-ups from the rest of the pack after losing three matches in February.

Aribo’s strike makes the difference as Southampton beat Birmingham City.

Saints’ recent form appeared to worsen after the opening 120 seconds against Birmingham, with Koji Miyoshi volleying the ball past Gavin Bazunu.

Adam Armstrong leveled matters 15 minutes later for the visitors, before Jay Stansfield blazed in another for the hosts, who led 2-1 at the break.

David Brooks, on loan from AFC Bournemouth, curled in another equaliser shortly after, before Che Adams put his current side ahead of his former club, who were soon reduced to ten men as Dion Sanderson was sent off.

Even with a man advantage, Southampton couldn’t maintain their lead as Bacuna leveled things again, before Aribo scrambled in the winner in the sixth minute of injury time to give his side a much-needed victory over a stuttering Saints side.

That was the Nigerian’s third goal in the Championship this season, following his strikes against Hull City and Swansea City earlier in the season. He has five goals for the club after his £6 million move over the border.