Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu has his sights set on a move to a top-tier club despite turning down lucrative offers last summer.
Joseph Okumu, the Kenyan defender, is aiming for an even bigger club following his transfer to the French team Stade de Reims from Belgian club KAA Gent during the summer transfer window.
Despite rejecting significant offers, Okumu opted for a €12 million move to Reims, where he believes he has the perfect opportunity to continue his growth and development.
However, his management believes that this move is just a stepping stone towards a high-value transfer to one of Europe’s top clubs, possibly in the Premier League, Bundesliga, or LaLiga.
Joseph Okumu’s agent, Omar Banza, stated, “Regarding transfers, it’s nothing complicated; it’s simply clubs conducting business, and we work to secure a good project for our client, both financially and in terms of sporting development.”
“After Reims, we don’t know yet. Right now, our client is content where he is, focused on achieving something with the club. Of course, we still have dreams. Playing in France is a positive step forward, although it may not be the final destination.”
Okumu was rumored to have attracted interest from several top European clubs, including Premier League giants Arsenal and Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. However, he ultimately chose a move to France.
Banza believes that Okumu possesses all the attributes to succeed at a top club, not only because of his quality as a player but also because of his professional approach to the game, which sets him apart from others.
“Working together, he is a top professional. Our motivation comes from him. He is professional, he knows what he wants, and that makes it easy to work with him,” he added.
Okumu has already demonstrated his quality in France, becoming a key member of Will Still’s squad, starting in nine out of the ten matches he has been available for.
His impressive performances earned him a spot in the Ligue 1 Team of the Month for October, and it is such recognition and consistent performances that could make it difficult for Reims to retain him.
The former Chemelil Sugar defender has experienced a meteoric rise since his move to Europe in 2019 when he joined the Swedish top-flight club IF Elfsborg. He spent two years in Sweden before switching to Gent in June 2021 in a €3.5 million deal, and now he finds himself in France following a similarly successful stint in Belgium.
