French Ligue 1 Side Confirms Signing of Kenyan Defender Joseph Okumu

• Kenyand defender Joseph Okumu has joined Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims
• Okumu joins on a five-year deal from Belgian side Gent
• The 26-year-old played two seasons for Gent

Kenyan international Joseph Okumu has joined French Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims, moving from Belgian club KAA Gent. The 26-year-old has signed a five-year deal with the French outfit.

The club confirmed the signing on Saturday afternoon, and he becomes one of the few Kenyan footballers to play for a top-five league in Europe.

Okumu joined Gent in 2021 from Swedish side IF Elfsborg and played for the Belgian side 45 times in the 2022/23 season. In total, he played 92 games for Gentand scored four goals.

The Harambee Stars defender won the Belgian Cup with Gent.

“Okumu has rendered great services to our club. Together with Ngadeu and Torunarigha he formed a very strong trio in the back. Joseph felt ready to take the next step in his career and is happy with his move to Reims. It is now up to us to replace him in a good way" - Michel Louwagie, CEO KAA Gent

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Stade de Reims confirm Okumu's signing

French Ligue 1 Stade de Reims side announced the signing on Twitter on Saturday, days after rumors emerged of a potential transfer. Okumu revealed he took a break from football in 2017 after a tough few years.

" In 2017 I needed a break, I cut football completely for about a year because the previous season had been very complicated. But I ended up going back to what I love the most, I couldn't stay away from the pitch indefinitely".

Okumu played for Kenya Premier League side Chemelil Sugar and also had stints in South Africa's Free State Stars and USA's Real Monarchs. Okumu will look to continue in the footsteps of his compatriot Dennis Oliech who is regarded as Kenya's greatest ever footballer.

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Sports Brief also reported on how the Kenyan footballer continues to make a name for himself in Japan and Qatar, having won league titles in both countries.

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Amid rumours that he could be on his way to join a club in England, Olunga responded to his Everton links with a clever reply in a video circulating online.

His current contract with Al-Duhail is coming to an end, and this has led to numerous transfer rumours claiming The Toffees are now interested in his services.