Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu has left Belgian side KAA Gent and has signed a deal with French Ligue 1 club Stade de Reims.

Okumu’s dream to take the next step in his football career has now been fulfilled, as he has signed a five-year deal with Reims.

The 26-year-old defender has been an integral part of KAA Gent’s defence for the past two seasons, making a significant impact with his speed, athleticism, and aerial prowess.

Okumu’s new challenge

His new club Reims also confirmed the deal, via a. post on their official website

“The 26-year-old Kenyan international Joseph Okumu is joining Stade de Reims from La Gantoise for a period of 5 years,” Reims announced.

Okumu joined KAA Gent in 2021 from Swedish club Elfsborg and quickly established himself as a key player in the team’s defense.

Standing tall at 1.90 meters, his strength in the air was evident, as all four of his goals for KAA Gent came from headers. In a total of 92 official matches, Okumu showcased his defensive skills, becoming a permanent fixture in the club’s backline.

One of the highlights of Okumu’s time at KAA Gent was his exceptional performance in the cup final against Anderlecht on April 18 last year. His strong defensive display during the final showcased his prowess as a reliable defender.

👋 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙝 𝙊𝙠𝙪𝙢𝙪

Il arrive tout juste de Belgique, découvrez 3 informations sur notre nouveau défenseur ⤵️#TeamSDR

— Stade de Reims (@StadeDeReims) July 22, 2023

“Beyond his on-field abilities, Okumu was also known for his positive attitude and infectious smile. Throughout his two seasons with KAA Gent, he endeared himself to the club’s fans and teammates alike, showing his commitment both on and off the field,” KAA said in a statement.

Stade de Reims, the French club that secured Okumu’s services, is coached by Belgian coach Will Still, and it already boasts two other former KAA Gent players – Thomas Foket and Thibault De Smet.

“This move to the French top-flight league is an exciting opportunity for Okumu to continue his football journey in a new environment,” the Belgian outfit added.

KAA thanks Okumu

Michel Louwagie, CEO of KAA Gent, expressed the club’s appreciation for Okumu’s contributions, describing him as a crucial member of the defensive lineup alongside Michael Ngadeu of Cameroon. Louwagie also acknowledged that Okumu’s desire to seek new challenges is understandable and wished him success at Stade de Reims.

“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,”  Louwagie said.

His career trajectory started at Chemelil Sugar before moving on to Free State Stars and AFC Ann Arbor.

With a standout season at AFC Ann Arbor in 2018, making eight league appearances, Okumu caught the attention of USL Championship side Real Monarchs, where he spent a year before joining Swedish Allsvenskan outfit IF Elfsborg in August 2019.