Southampton has suspended contract extension talks with Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu as they fight to stay in the Premier League.
In a dramatic move, the Saints have decided to put all decisions, including Onuachu’s future, on hold until the outcome of the season is determined.
If the club faces relegation, they plan to offload several experienced players, including Onuachu, to make way for new, younger talent. This sudden change in strategy has forced the striker’s contract talks to be suspended.
Onuachu, who is currently under contract until June 2026, had been in negotiations for a three-year extension and a salary increase, but those talks are now frozen.
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A source close to CMG Sports, Onuachu’s agency, confirmed to Africafoot that the club had communicated their decision, emphasizing no decision would be made until the end of the season.
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“The club wants to secure its Premier League status before moving forward. We’re disappointed, but we respect their position,” the source said.
Since joining Southampton from Genk in 2023, Onuachu has made 34 appearances, including 22 this season, scoring three goals and providing one assist.
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Last season, he was loaned to Trabzonspor in Turkey, where he impressed with 17 goals and four assists in 25 games.
Onuachu has also earned 22 caps for Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, scoring three goals. However, he has been left out of the squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
