NEWS | Joe Aribo commits his future to Charlton Athletic

George Jones reports

Charlton Athletic are delighted to confirm that Joe Aribo has signed a two and-a-half-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until June 2019.

The dynamic midfielder has been around the first team squad this season, following a very impressive campaign with Jason Euell’s U23s side in 2015/16.

He made his first league appearance as a substitute against Peterborough United at The Valley this month, with his full debut having come a few weeks earlier away at Colchester United in the Checkatrade Trophy.

The 20-year-old said: “It feels great to have my extension sorted. I’m really happy to have it signed and now I want to get back out on the training pitch, work hard and keep improving.

“I didn’t know how it would go when I joined the club last summer. I’ve done so much more than I thought I would, I’ve exceeded my own expectations and I’m so glad that the Manager has recognised my improvements.

“Now, I want to try and get more experience. I want to play matches for Charlton and, if I play, then I’ll keep improving.”

Charlton Manager Karl Robinson said: “Joe is like a young Patrick Vieira in some ways with his leggy range, quality and appetite to get around the pitch. From the moment I walked in the door, I was told about him. I’ve trusted him and when he started against MK Dons in the FA Cup I thought he was one of the best players on the pitch.

“It was important that we wrapped Joe’s contract up very quickly. I’m ecstatic about his future; Charlton have a rich history of developing young players and I’m sure that he’s got the ability to get to the top.” 

Aribo was recommended to Charlton by former Staines Town Manager Marcus Gayle, who played with the Addicks’ U23s boss Euell at Wimbledon.

That came in summer 2015 and, after a great first season in our development squad, he made his first senior appearance in the Checkatrade Trophy when he came off the bench against Crawley Town in October. He earned his first start in the same competition the following month against Colchester United and also began from the off in our Emirates FA Cup replay against MK Dons earlier in December.