With the hosting of the 2024 CHAN tournament marking a major historic moment for the future of Kenyan football, a number of footballers similarly ensured that 2025 became a breakthrough year for big money moves.

People Daily Digital Sports provides a listicle of the major players who made career-defining moves to the top coveted clubs across Africa and the world.

Ryan Ogam

The Tusker FC ace was arguably Kenya’s standout performer at the 2024 CHAN games, thanks to his goal-scoring streak.

Ogam, then a lesser-known figure in the Tusker FC ranks, grabbed the continental games hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania by the scruff of the neck and became the main man behind Kenya’s fine showing, which ended with a quarterfinal loss to Madagascar.

Also Read: Kenya’s top Sporting moments of 2025

His stunning performances, including two goals in the continental championship and an outstanding overall display, earned him a big-money move to Austrian top-tier side Wolfsberger AC.

Ogam officially bid Tusker FC farewell for his maiden professional stint on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, becoming the first Kenyan footballer to transfer directly from the Kenya Premier League (KPL) to a European top-tier league.

Aldrine Kibet

 The Kenyan youngster was officially signed by Spanish La Liga side Celta Vigo on a four-year deal in July 2025. The hotshot caught the attention of Celta Vigo scouts after an impressive showing with Kenya’s U20 national team, where he scored four goals in five appearances

Kibet joined Celta Fortuna (also known as Celta B) immediately, where he is expected to continue his development and push for a place in the senior squad.

Rising star

Kibet’s football story began at St. Anthony’s Boys High School in Kitale, where he captained the team to a national championship title at the 2023 KSSSA games. He later joined the Spanish Nastic Sports Academy, which laid the foundation for this major career leap. He has since made tremendous strides and recently earned a call-up to the senior national team under Benni McCarthy.

Mohammed Bajaber

One of the players who enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom in Kenya’s football story of 2025 is Mohammed Bajaber.

The little-known player only came into the limelight when he signed for Nairobi City Stars, a KPL side, before later catching the attention of Police FC.

It is at Police FC where he truly announced himself to Kenya. After signing a mid-season transfer in February 2025, he went on to cement himself as the star boy of Kenyan football.

Bajaber bagged his debut goal against Bidco United in what was a fine start to life at the club and extended his impressive form to inspire Police FC to its maiden FKF Premier League title.

On the international front, he scored a stunning goal on his debut as Kenya drew 3-3 with The Gambia. That form earned him a move to Simba SC just before the CHAN 2024 games began.

Bittersweet moment

The transfer, however, came with a bittersweet feeling. The attacking midfielder missed out on the final CHAN squad due to a nagging injury that kept him out of the Harambee Stars CHAN team and also caused him to miss Simba’s season kick-off.

He eventually announced himself to Simba’s faithful in November 2025, in the manner he knows best: with a goal on his competitive debut. The youngster will be hopeful that 2026 brings good tidings as he bids to showcase his potential in a star-studded Simba SC squad competing on both local and continental stages.

Rooney Onyango

The marauding right-back earned a move to a Norwegian club. Onyango’s switch to the Nordic league highlighted his solid presence in Gor Mahia’s (K’Ogalo’s) ranks and the Harambee Stars setup.

Moses Shumah

Kakamega Homeboyz striker Moses Shumah also made headline news after completing a switch to Zambian champions Power Dynamos at the end of the 2024/25 FKF Premier League season.

Shumah, who topped the local scoring charts with 17 goals, was snapped up by the Aba Yellow for the new campaign, continuing the tradition of many Kenyans moving from the KPL to the Zambian league.

Shumah wasted no time making his mark at his new club, scoring in both of Power Dynamos’ CAF Champions League engagements and in league matches, where he now ranks as joint top scorer in the Zambian Super League.