Catching flights and securing good money transfers, was part of the off-field events that made headlines in the Kenyan football space in the last 12 months.
Some household names including Benson Omalla who grabbed the FKF Premier League Golden Boot after scoring 19 goals last season, secured moves abroad which created a buzz in the local football space.
Here are some of the players who secured moves abroad:
Stanley Wilson Omondi
Kariobangi Sharks continued to prove that it is a breeding ground for prolific talent after Stanley Wilson Omondi secured a move to the 2018 Swedish champions AIK Fotboll.
Wilson completed the move to AIK in August 2024, marking the start of life in professional football after barely a season in the Kenyan top flight.
Before the mouthwatering deal was sealed, AIK had invited Wilson for trials in February 2024, where he impressed their scouting team.
🗣️ Thomas Berntsen:
— AIK Fotboll (@AIKfotboll) August 22, 2024
"Med tålamod och hårt arbete tror vi starkt på att Stanley kommer att bli en toppspelare för AIK".
🗣️ Stanley Wilson:
"Jag är väldigt glad över att få vara en del av AIK-familjen och jag ser fram emot att uppfylla min dröm att bli svensk mästare med klubben". pic.twitter.com/6Mo03fRCf2
Kariobangi Sharks pocketed close to Ksh25 million from the transfer (USD 200,000).
“We got between USD 150,000 to 20, 000 from the deal. It is not bad business considering that the player turned 18 this week and was just a season old in the top tier,” Kariobangi Sharks chairman Robert Maoga told a local publication after AIK confirmed the acquisition of Stanley Wilson.
Benson Omala
Former Gor Mahia forward Benson Omala also left the fans disappointed after securing a move to Lebanon’s top side Al-Safa FC in a one-year deal.
The former Kisumu Day School player had grown into the Kenyan football scene and become a darling when Al-Safa FC grabbed him from K’Ogalo in August 2024.
However, Gor Mahia did not reveal the specific amount paid by the Lebanon’s top side to acquire the services of their former prolific marksman.
In February 2024, Omala almost completed loan move to Algerian topflight side JS Saoura but the deal collapsed at the last minute.
The defending Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) champions were set to pocket Ksh3 million from the transfer before it hit headwinds.
On the other side, Omala had been promised a net salary of approximately Ksh1.3 million per month, a car and a house. It is however not clear why the deal did not sail through.
Teddy Akumu
In July 2024, Harambee Stars midfield maestro Anthony Teddy Akumu found a new home seven months after leaving Japan’s J-League side, Sagan Tosu.
Akumu who has been a mainstay in Engin Firat’s squad for the national team, completed his transfer to Iranian side Kheybar Khorramabad as a free agent. Akumu signed a year-long contract with the Iranian side.
Anthony Akumu’s career gained momentum at Gor Mahia, where he quickly made a name for himself. In 2014, Akumu moved to Al Khartoum in Sudan, and after a year, he transferred to Zambia’s Zesco United.
His four-year tenure at Zesco United was marked by consistent performances which eventually earned him a move to Kaizer Chiefs in 2020 before moving to Japan.
Akumu was among the players that impressed in the Kenyan side when Harambee Stars clashed with Cameroon in AFCON qualifiers.
Eric Ouma
Kenyan highly-rated left back Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma was sold for over Ksh150 million following his move from Swedish side AIK to Polish champions Rakow Czestochowa in a deal which was sealed early this year.
Ouma joined the Polish club on a two-year deal, with an option for as many more years, beginning a new chapter in his career.
The Polish side first submitted their bid in December 2023, a time when other suitors were looking to sign the left back.
However, Rakow Czestochowa outbid other suitors to acquire the services of the Kenyan international whose talent was honed at Kakamega High School before joining Gor Mahia.
Mwanahalima Adam
The Kansas City Current announced the signing of Mwanalima Adam Jereko in August 2024.
Mwanahalima who is commonly known as Jereko, agreed to a contract with the club through the 2025 season, with an option for the 2026 season.
Jereko’s transfer fees to the US side was not immediately disclosed.
“I can’t wait to get to Kansas City and play for the Current,” said Jereko. “The organization has been incredible with me, and I am very excited to be part of this club,” she said after the deal was announced.
In their confirmation news, Kansas City described the 26-year-old midfielder as an integral part to women’s football in Kenya, where she helped bring the country to its first CECAFA Women’s Championship finals in 2019.
First selected for the U-17 youth side in 2015, Jereko joined the senior national team soon after and has capped for Kenya in all major tournaments since, including the recent 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Richard Odada
In July 2024, Philadelphia Union announced that they had agreed to the permanent transfer of midfielder Richard Odada to Scottish side Dundee United F.C.
Appearing in eight Union II matches, Odada first signed up with Philadelphia in August 2022 from the Serbian SuperLiga where he played for Red Star Belgrade, before departing on loan to Danish side Aalborg BK on August 23, 2023.
Beginning his career with AFC Leopards, Odada quickly caught the eye of various elite-level European clubs, subsequently embarking on various trial stints with Inter Milan, Juventus and latterly Red Star Belgrade – one which ended in success as he penned a deal with the 35-time Serbian Champions at the age of 19.
⚔️🇰🇪 Coming soon to #DUFC's midfield pic.twitter.com/2ldpdy6QA1
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) July 26, 2024
`To further his development with regular first-team action, the defensive midfielder initially joined partner club Graficar Beograd for the 2019/20 campaign, then Metalac Gornji Milanovac for the following season.
His loan stints across the Serbian pyramid afforded him over half a century of senior appearances during his formative years.
Seeking a new challenge upon the expiry of his Red Star deal, Odada headed Stateside to team up with Philidelphia Union. He then temporarily joined Aalborg BK for 2023/24 to aid their efforts to return to the Danish SuperLiga.
The towering 23-year-old became a regular for De Røde immediately upon his arrival, anchoring their title-winning midfield whilst also contributing four goals to the promotion push.
His impressive performance attracted Dundee United who snapped him in July 2024 at an undisclosed fee.
Odada has so far impressed both for the Scottish side and Harambee Stars.
Cynthia Shilwatso is also a notable mention in the list as she recently secured a move to the Turkish side, Besiktas.
The Harambee Starlets forward moved to Besiktas from Kryvbas FC in the Ukrainian top flight. She joined Kryvbas in 2023 and helped them make it to the league and cup finals in the 2022–2023 season.
Shilwatso featured in the UEFA Women’s Champions League last season.
Ailemize Hoş Geldin Shilwatso Cynthia Musungu 🦅 pic.twitter.com/EhsxI2a79Z
— Beşiktaş United Payment Kadın Futbol (@BJKKadinFutbol) November 16, 2024
