As the 2025/26 season comes to a close, several players will depart from the Southampton Men’s First Team as their contracts expire. This marks a significant transition for the club.
Departures from Southampton Men’s First Team
The following players will be leaving the club:
- Oriol Romeu
- Will Smallbone
- Ross Stewart
- Alex McCarthy
- Joe Aribo
- Jamie Jones
- Charlie Taylor
- Elias Jelert
Player Highlights
- Oriol Romeu: After returning to Southampton in November 2025, Romeu finishes his time at the club this month. He made 263 total appearances, contributing significantly to the club’s achievements, including a top Premier League finish in 2016.
- Will Smallbone: A product of the Southampton Academy, Smallbone departs after 18 years. He made 90 appearances, famously scoring in the Championship play-off semi-final against West Brom in 2024.
- Ross Stewart: The striker will leave after a season where he scored 11 goals in 33 appearances. He played a key role in the club’s promotion back to the Premier League.
- Alex McCarthy: The goalkeeper concludes his ten-year tenure with 165 appearances. McCarthy notably contributed to the club’s promotion in 2024.
- Joe Aribo: Departing after four years, the Nigerian international accumulated 111 appearances, playing a role in the club’s promotion back to the Premier League.
Additional Departures
Also leaving the club are Will Armitage, Sonnie Davis, Hugo Fisher, Will Merry, and Sam Tabares. Southampton FC expresses gratitude towards these players for their commitment and wishes them success in their future endeavors.
As the team prepares for the next season, these changes mark a new chapter for Southampton, with the opportunity for fresh talent and strategies to emerge.
