Sam Edozie has submitted a transfer request at Southampton, with the winger publicly declaring he wants out before Tuesday night’s deadline after what he describes as a year of blocked exits.
The 23-year-old took the unusual step of posting a statement on Instagram, revealing he has received “multiple offers” from clubs across Europe and accusing Southampton of making any move prohibitively difficult.
Frustration boils over
Edozie says this is not a sudden decision. He claims he had the chance to leave last summer, only for Southampton to shut the door. The same, he says, happened again in January. Now, with another window closing in, his patience appears to have snapped.
“This summer, there have once again been multiple offers from clubs across Europe,” his statement read.
The winger also alleged that Southampton have “requested as much as 50% of any future transfer fee”, a sell-on demand he believes has scared off potential buyers and stalled his career at a critical stage.
BBC Sport have contacted Southampton for comment.
Career on pause
Edozie arrived at St Mary’s from Manchester City in September 2022, a highly rated wide player expected to grow with regular senior football. Since then he has made 29 starts and 57 substitute appearances, flashes of promise without the sustained run he craves.
He has already stepped away from the south coast for game time, joining Belgian side Anderlecht on loan for the 2024-25 season. The move underlined his desire to play, but his words now make clear he sees his long-term future away from Southampton altogether.
He said he was not getting “the minutes I need” at the club and laid out the stakes in blunt terms.
“A football career is short, and I believe it is important I now have the opportunity to go somewhere I can play regularly, continue to develop and make the most of my career as a player,” he wrote.
With the deadline looming and a player openly pushing for the exit, the next few days will show whether Southampton hold their line again, or finally let Edozie take the chance he insists he can no longer afford to miss.
