The ex-Harambee Stars captain has disclosed his reasons for rejecting Arsenal and instead choosing Southampton in 2013. Victor Wanyama, having previously captained the Harambee Stars, shared insights into his decision to opt for Southampton over Arsenal in 2013.
Wanyama made a groundbreaking move from Celtic to Southampton for £12.5 million, becoming the first Kenyan to play in the Premier League.
At Celtic, the 32-year-old rose to prominence, clinching the Scottish Young Player of the Year award in his final season, highlighted by scoring the decisive goal in a Champions League match against Barcelona. This performance was so impressive that Andres Iniesta requested his shirt post-match.
In a conversation on Radio 47, Wanyama revealed he had attracted interest from several clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal, QPR, and Cardiff.
“While at Celtic, various EPL clubs showed interest in me,” Wanyama stated.
“Teams like QPR, who were financially robust like Manchester City, Cardiff, Arsenal, and Southampton were all in the mix.”
Wanyama disclosed that Cardiff, Southampton, and Arsenal had all made formal offers. His decision to join Southampton was influenced by counsel from his agent, Ivan Modia Yanez.
“My agent advised me, viewing me as his son, that Southampton would be the best career move due to its stability. He cautioned against joining a club with high demands and pressure that could potentially derail my progress. He noted Cardiff’s relegation battle but saw Southampton, under coach Mauricio Pochettino from Spain, as a team in development with ambitions of contending for titles, and where I could be a significant contributor.”
“Accepting this guidance, I agreed to sign with Southampton,” he concluded.
