Ajayi's chances of returning to the Premier League increase after Saints get disqualified

SEMI Ajayi's chances of returning to the English Premier League next season have increased significantly after Southampton his club's opponents in this weekend's play-off final got disqualified and were replaced with the slightly less formidable Middlesbrough.

Super Eagles centreback Ajayi, 32, plays for Hull City, who qualified for the final of the Championship play-offs, due to take place this Saturday at Wembley Stadium in London. Hull, who finished sixth in the league had beaten Milwall in the semi finals and were due to face Southampton who had beaten Boro in the other semi final.

However, things took a twist earlier this week when the English Football League (EFL) disqualified Southampton after it emerged that one member of its staff had spied on a Boro training session on May 7 ahead of the semi-final. Southampton have also been docked four points, which will be deducted when the league starts next season.

Ajayi started the second leg of the semi final at the Den, helping Hull to secure a 2-0 victory and will now fancy his chances of returning to the Premier League over the weekend. During the 2020/21 season Ajayi played in the top flight of English football with West Bromwich Albion.

Southampton were initially reported to the EFL by Middlesbrough and two days later, their head coach Kim Hellberg accused the Saints of cheating. After Boro reported the issue, pictures surfaced five days later showing the Southampton analyst near Middlesbrough's training ground.

Following an independent hearing, it was decided that Boro will go through to the final, while Southampton will continue in the EFL Championship next season. Semi will be hoping to return to the Premier League, which his former club, Arsenal, who he began his career with, have just emerged as the 2025/26 champions.

An EFL spokesman said: “Southampton was first charged on Friday 8 May, with further charges issued on Sunday 17 May in relation to additional breaches during the 2025/26 season. Those additional charges arose from matters identified after the initial proceedings involving Middlesbrough were initiated.

“Southampton admitted breaches of regulations requiring clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match. The admitted breaches concern fixtures against Oxford United in December 2025, Ipswich Town in April 2026 and Middlesbrough in May 2026.”

Ajayi is also hoping to be recalled to the Super Eagles squad and maybe participate in the forthcoming Unity Cup taking place in London later this month. Already Exeter  have confirmed that their goalkeeper, another former Arsenal academy youngster Arthur Okonkwo, has been invited to camp by the Nigerian Football Federation.