Salford City have completed the loan signing of Anglo-Nigerian centre-forward Princewill Ehibhatiomhan from Southampton U21, in a deal that runs from 2026-02-02 to 2026-05-31. The 20-year-old moves from Premier League 2 to League Two on a temporary basis, with Salford securing a low-cost addition as the transfer has been registered as a loan transfer rather than a permanent move.
The move sees Salford bring in a 1.91m right-footed striker whose current market value stands at €75k, according to the latest available assessment. Ehibhatiomhan remains contracted to Southampton’s U21 setup and will return there at the end of the loan on 2026-05-31, meaning there is no immediate change to his long-term club status and no indication in the data that he is becoming a free agent once this spell concludes.
Ehibhatiomhan joins Salford from a development pathway that has kept him within the English system throughout his young career. Born in Milton Keynes on 20 Oct 2005, he holds both England and Nigeria nationality. At youth level he progressed through Reading’s ranks, moving from Reading FC Youth to Reading FC U18 before a spell without a club and then a return to academy football with Southampton FC U18. He stepped up to Southampton FC U21 ahead of the 24/25 campaign, entering Premier League 2 and positioning himself closer to senior professional football.
His route into League Two has already included a taste of the division. Prior to this latest move he had a loan stint at Swindon Town, also in League Two, during the 25/26 season. That arrangement began with a loan transfer from Southampton FC U21 to Swindon Town and concluded when he returned to Southampton at the end of the loan earlier in the same campaign. The subsequent switch to Salford marks his second temporary assignment in the fourth tier, underlining how his parent club view sustained senior exposure as central to his development.
Across his career to date, Ehibhatiomhan has operated consistently as a centre-forward, aligning his height and physical profile with the demands of leading the line. His pathway has taken him through youth and development competitions in England, including Premier League 2, before these recent loans into League Two. While detailed match-by-match statistics, recent appearances, and specific performances are not provided in the available data, the pattern of repeated loans at a relatively young age indicates that he is already trusted to handle the intensity of senior professional environments.
The cross-border element to his profile lies in nationality rather than geography: although he continues to play in England, his dual England–Nigeria status means every step he takes in League Two will be watched from both countries. The data confirms his national ties but does not record any senior international activity so far, leaving his international future open.
With this confirmed loan, Salford gain a tall, developing striker with a modest but rising market valuation, while Southampton retain long-term control of a player they have moved steadily up their academy ladder. If he adapts quickly and converts his youth and development experience into consistent performances, this spell could be a significant staging post in his career, strengthening his reputation in the English professional game and enhancing his prospects at both club and international level once he returns to Southampton at the conclusion of his loan on 2026-05-31.
