Ghanaian forward Joseph Paintsil has confirmed that EFL Championship side Southampton FC expressed interest in signing him from KRC Genk. However, he chose to stay with the Belgian club for the current season.

Southampton, a recently relegated English Premier League team, came close to signing the 25-year-old winger during the summer transfer window but ultimately withdrew their interest at the last moment.

According to Paintsil, several people, including his mother and spiritual father, advised him to make the move to Southampton this summer, predicting a successful career at the English club.

"Many people whose opinions I respect told me that I should leave this summer. Even my mother advised me to opt for a transfer," the Ghanaian hitman  revealed to Het Laatste Nieuws. 

"My godfather told me: ‘Southampton is a good club, you will do well there’. But my heart said no," he added

However, he ultimately decided to stay with Genk.

Paintsil has had a productive season with Genk, scoring one goal and providing three assists in 10 games across all competitions in the 2023/24 campaign.

He has also earned 9 caps for the Ghana national team, the Black Stars, at the senior level.