Kenyan international Richard Odada has officially joined Scottish Premiership side Dundee United from Philadelphia Union on a long-term deal. The Harambee Stars midfielder has signed a two-year contract with The Terrors, with an option for an additional year. Dundee United secured their promotion back to the Scottish Premiership with a 0-0 draw against Airdrieonians on April 26, 2024.
“It feels nice to be wearing this shirt. As soon as I heard there was interest at the end of the season, I just said ‘make it happen!’ to my agent,” said Odada.
“The demands placed on the team both by the fans and ourselves as players are exciting – it’s a mentality I’m happy to work with. I’m looking forward to working hard and giving my best for the club, fans, and my teammates. I’m here to push us on to achieving our goals for the season.”
This transfer marks a pivotal moment in Odada’s career, which began in Nairobi with top-flight team Leopards. His exceptional skills quickly drew attention from several high-profile European clubs, leading to trial stints with giants like Inter Milan and Juventus, and a successful tenure with Red Star Belgrade. At Red Star, he continued to develop his talents, seeking more consistent first-team action, which led to loan spells at Graficar Beograd and then Metalac Gornji Milanovac.
Odada then ventured to the United States, joining Philadelphia Union, where he split his time between the senior team and the reserves, further honing his robust style of play. His next move took him to Aalborg BK in Denmark, where he played a vital role in their promotion campaign to the Danish SuperLiga, contributing four goals as a midfield anchor and demonstrating his growing influence on the pitch.
Dundee United’s return to the Scottish Premiership was confirmed with a nail-biting 0-0 draw against Airdrieonians on April 26, 2024. Odada’s addition to the team is seen as a crucial enhancement as they aim to solidify their status in the Premiership and build on their successful promotion campaign.
In addition to his club commitments, Odada has also become a significant figure in the Kenyan national team, the Harambee Stars. Since joining the senior squad, he has accumulated 17 caps and scored his first international goal in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Rwanda in 2022.
