Sam Edozie Requests Transfer from Southampton Ahead of Deadline

Sam Edozie has submitted a transfer request to Southampton, revealing he wants out before Tuesday night’s deadline after what he describes as a series of blocked moves away from the club.

The 23-year-old winger issued a statement on Instagram, saying he has received “multiple offers” from clubs across Europe but claimed the terms Southampton are demanding have made a deal hard to strike.

Frustration over blocked exits

Edozie said he first had the chance to leave last summer but was prevented from doing so, and that the same scenario played out again in January.

“Last summer I had the opportunity to move elsewhere, but the club did not allow me to leave,” he wrote. “The same happened again in January. This summer, there have once again been multiple offers from clubs across Europe.”

According to Edozie, the sticking point has been Southampton’s stance on a future sell-on, which he believes has scared suitors off.

He claimed the club have “requested as much as 50% of any future transfer fee, which has made those opportunities extremely difficult to pursue”.

BBC Sport have contacted Southampton for comment.

Career on pause

Edozie joined Southampton from Manchester City in September 2022 and has struggled to nail down a regular starting place. He has made 29 starts and 57 substitute appearances in all competitions for the club.

The winger, a former England Under-20 international, has already stepped away from St Mary’s for game time, joining Belgian side Anderlecht on loan for the 2024-25 season.

Even so, he made it clear his frustration stems from a lack of minutes in a Southampton shirt.

He said he was not getting “the minutes I need” at the club and underlined the urgency he feels at this stage of his career.

“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 said.

With the window closing fast and a player publicly pushing for the exit, the next few days will show whether Southampton dig in again or finally let Edozie go.