Kenyan midfielder Zech Obiero has renewed his contract with Leyton Orient following his impressive performances and developmental loan spells. Obiero has inked a two-year contract extension with the English Football League One team, ensuring his stay at the club for the upcoming seasons.
The 19-year-old talent made his first-team debut in April 2022 and has exhibited significant growth and potential, leading to this commitment from the club. This season, Obiero has made five appearances in League One, including starts in the last four matches. He expressed his excitement about continuing his journey with Leyton Orient, stating, “I’m buzzing. I’m grateful for the opportunities that I have had here, and I am really happy to get it done,” during an interview with the club’s website.
Obiero’s development has been enhanced by loan spells at Isthmian Premier League club Cheshunt and National League South club Chelmsford, where he gained valuable experience in senior football. Since his first appearance, which was a starting role in a 2-1 victory at Crawley Town, Obiero’s performance has steadily improved. His progress peaked earlier this month in a man-of-the-match performance during a 3-1 victory over Cheltenham Town, marking his first start in the Sky Bet League One.
Reflecting on his journey, Obiero said, “My journey at Orient has been a rollercoaster of emotions so far, and seeing other younger players such as Charlie Pegrum getting their chances has shown that there is an opportunity for me to kick on as well. I’ve just kept working until I got my chance. The whole team has helped me, but players like Jayden Sweeney and Ruel Sotiriou have really helped me coming through as a young lad, and I can relate to them as they’ve come through the academy too.”
Martin Ling, Leyton Orient’s Director of Football, praised Obiero’s dedication and the quality of the club’s academy, stating, “Zech thoroughly deserves this new two-year deal here at Leyton Orient. It once again reinforces the excellent work done by our academy players and staff, and he has worked relentlessly for his chance in the first-team, and has taken that chance extremely well in recent weeks.”
Head Coach Richie Wellens also shared his satisfaction with securing Obiero’s future at the club, noting, “Ever since I came to the club, I have been really impressed with Zech. He’s worked tirelessly on the training pitch and after spending some time away from us getting more used to senior football, he has now forced his way into the first-team picture. He’s a really exciting player, and one that we believe can play a big part in the future of our squad going forward.”
