The agent, Sylvester Agyei, has disclosed that Southampton made an offer to retain the young player Kazeem Olaigbe this summer. However, Olaigbe decided to explore other opportunities and ultimately returned to Belgium to join Cercle Brugge.
Olaigbe left Southampton as a free agent in August, concluding his four-year association with the club. He initially joined Southampton from Anderlecht’s youth system in 2019, progressively moving up through their ranks, including a stint in the B team and loan spells at Ross County and Harrogate Town.
Despite his tenure, he did not make any appearances for Southampton’s first team. Therefore, he made the choice to return to his home country in search of more playing time and personal development.
During the current season, he has gradually become part of Cercle Brugge’s first team, with four appearances and 15% of available playing time to his name. This opportunity also led to his selection for Belgium’s U21 team, where he made his debut in September and has since excelled, scoring goals in all three of his appearances and receiving considerable acclaim.
Olaigbe’s decision to leave Southampton appears to have been a wise one, and Southampton may now rue not putting in more effort to retain him, despite their offer being declined.
Agyei commented on his client’s time in England, stating, “He really gained maturity there and grew physically.” Although Southampton expressed interest in extending his contract, Olaigbe was determined to establish himself in Belgium. Agyei also hinted at Olaigbe’s potential, stating, “We are just bringing him in slowly. People haven’t seen the last of him yet, I can assure you of that.”
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