How Aribo climbed the pyramid, from non-league to Rangers, as told by the player himself

Joe Aribo was playing non-league football until he was 18 and was on the books of Staines Town at the time.

When he wasn't playing football, he went to the university, where he was studying Sports Science, but had to drop out of university to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

The versatile midfielder was later poached by League One club Charlton Athletic, with the Addicks offering him a deal following a successful trial.

Taking up the story, in a light-hearted but serious conversation with King Ekong's YouTube page, Aribo said : "I went to Charlton, I was playing in the U23s and then broke into the first team, and I played there for a season, and I got moved to Rangers, and I'm at Rangers.

"I moved to Rangers after one season in the first team, U23s for about two years.

"I came to the end of my contract, I didn't sign a new deal. Yes (Steven Gerrard gave me the call)".

Aribo made his senior debut for the Super Eagles in an international friendly against Ukraine, four years after leaving Staines Town, inheriting the number 10 jersey previously worn by Nigeria greats John Obi Mikel and Austin Okocha.

On the back of his impressive showing since his move to Rangers, for whom he has been involved in 36 goals in 110 games, a move to the English Premier League could be on the horizon.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel