When Victor Wanyama made his international debut for Kenya in 2007 at the age of 15, very few would have predicted the combative midfielder from Nairobi would turn out to be one of the most sought after talents in Europe.
Tottenham yesterday agreed a £11 million deal to sign the Southampton man beating off competition from Premier League champions Leicester City.
Wanyama who was in the recent past linked with clubs such as Manchester United and Arsenal has turned from a young Academy Graduate into a world-class talent in less than a decade.
This is a clear indication of Wanyama’s hard work and discipline.
12 years ago Victor Wanyama left High School to begin his youth career at JMJ Youth Academy. In the following months, he would go on to play for Kenyan giants, Nairobi City Stars and AFC Leopards.
He was immediately noticed by Helsingborg in the summer of 2007 but he had an unsuccessful stint forcing him to return to Kenya in the year 2008.
The same year Wanyama signed for Belgian club Beerschot AC after a successful trail penning a four year deal.
He made 52 appearances for the club scoring 2 goals, amid disciplinary issues one in particular being a three match suspension after video evidence revealed he had elbowed his opponent during a league match.
In 2011 Wanyaman was on the move again and found himself signing for Scottish club Celtic in a 4 year deal worth £900, 000 making him the first Kenyan to play in the Scottish Premiership.
It is at Celtic that Wanyama would eventually get International attention scoring against Barcelona in the famous 2-1 win in a Uefa Champions League game. He went on to play 61 games for Celtic netting 10 goals.
In 2013 Wanyama’s contract talks with Celtic broke down forcing him to negotiate a move to English Premier League side Southampton in a deal worth £12.5 million making him the first Kenyan to join Premier League side.
Victor Wanyama told the club’s website at that time that he received a lot of offers from other Premier League sides but he decided to settle on Southampton.
“Southampton is a good club and it has good players, so I just want to train hard and work hard to be a part of the starting eleven. We’ll see where that will take me. It feels great and I am happy to be here. There were other options, but Southampton is a club with ambitions so I chose to come here. I’m very grateful to be here and I’m looking forward to playing in the Premier League,” Wanyama was quoted
The Kenyan International would go on to be an integral part of Southampton’s success over the next 3 years at the club most notable, last season when he helped the Saints qualify for the Europa League.
But over the last few months speculation had grown about Wanyama’s future at St. Mary’s. Soka25east.com closely monitored reports of Tottenham’s interest in the Haraambe stars captain.
Yesterday, it was confirmed that Wanyama would leave the Saints to join his former manager Mauricio Pochettino at North London Club Tottenham Hotspurs in a £11 million deal.
Wanyama is expected in London on Monday to undergo a medical.
A new chapter has dawned for Wanyama.
