Official | KAA Gent centre-back Joseph Okumu joins Reims

Stade de Reims have announced this Saturday the signing of Kenyan international centre-back Joseph Okumu (26) from Gent. The 26-year-old defender is now tied to the Will Still-led Champagne side on a long-term five-year contract. Okumu’s journey to European football has not been straight-forward to say the least. He terminated his contract with South African outfit FS Stars in 2017 to take a break, and then moved to the United States in order to kick-start his career again, playing for third-tier sides, namely AFC Ann Arbor and then Real Monarchs.

Did you 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 anything ? 🕵️‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/bSewiIv9yZ

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

His performances earned him a return to Europe in 2019 at Swedish outfit Efsborg. Two years later, he joined KAA Gent. Okumu was considered one of the most reliable and fastest centre-backs in the Jupiler League, clocking a top speed of 36 km/h. Reims were in the market for a centre-half following the departure of Andreaw Gravillon to Adana Demirspor. The 16-time Kenya international will wear the #2 jersey with Reims. The Ligue 1 club announced Okumu’s arrival in a creative Usual Suspects-inspired video, with Still stealing the show.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval