Michail Antonio has opened up about a transfer that never materialised — one he believes could have placed him at the heart of Southampton's remarkable ascent through English football's divisions.

The forward spent a loan spell at St Mary's and impressed enough to want a permanent move, but was ultimately blocked from completing the transfer. Southampton, of course, went on to climb from the third tier all the way to the Premier League, and Antonio has reflected on what might have been had he been allowed to stay.

"I wasn't allowed to join Southampton after my loan spell," Antonio said. "I could have been part of their rise to the Premier League."

It is the kind of what-if moment that defines careers — the door that closes and redirects a player's path entirely. For Antonio, the rejection meant a different journey through the football pyramid, one that eventually led him to West Ham United and a prominent place in the Premier League regardless.

Southampton's rise during that period remains one of English football's most celebrated stories, with the club transforming from a League One side into a top-flight force in a matter of years. Antonio's admission adds a personal dimension to that story — a player who was there at the beginning but was denied the chance to be part of the full journey.

The winger-turned-striker has spoken candidly before about the twists in his career, but this particular transfer saga stands out as one of the most significant crossroads he encountered before eventually establishing himself at the highest level.