Erick "Marcelo" Ouma changes management amid transfer speculation

Harambee Stars and AIK Fotboll left back Erick Ouma has changed his management, and will now be represented by global sports agency; 11MAN Soccer Management.

The news, confirmed by the “leading agency for modern and innovative football player career management”, consequently brings to an end Ouma’s relationship with his previous representatives - Atotos Sports Management.

“We want to welcome Erick Otieno to the 11 m family,” 11 Management posted on Instagram with a picture of Ouma in his AIK jersey.

The player agent shift comes in the backdrop of Ouma’s contract at his Swedish top tier club - AIK - entering its final year, and with much speculation surrounding his career path given the fact that clubs could be lining up for his signature in next year’s winter transfer window in January.

Ouma, who joined AIK in January 2020, is coming off his third full season in the Allsvenskan, where he registered one goal, four assists and a total 2894 minutes played in the entire 2022-23 campaign.

His last game of the concluded season - a 3-1 win over Varnamo - saw him play for 91 minutes before being substituted off with an injury set to keep him out of Kenya’s opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Gabon on Thursday evening. In the post-match interview, the former Gor Mahia man hinted at leaving the club "soon".

All options in regards to a looming exit look to be on the table, with earlier news this year indicating that the club had not initiated talks on picking up an extension on his deal scheduled to expire on 21 December 2024.

In a publication by Swedish newspaper Sportbladet in September this year, it was confirmed that Segunda Division side Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona - commonly known as RCD Espanyol - was one of the clubs that was interested in snapping up AIK left back, but saw the bid rejected due to AIK’s inflated player valuation.

Espanyol among clubs that offered deal for Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma, revelations on why it was rejected

As per the source, the Spanish club could be vying for his signature, joining a host of other top European clubs that have expressed interest in the former Gor Mahia man.

Over the years, Ouma has been linked to clubs such as Brighton and Hove Albion, Leicester City, Crystal Palace, Atalanta and Wolfsburg, with St. Etienne being the latest name to join the list.

Ouma’s market value stands at €1,500,000 (Ksh. 204,000,000), and has a 30% sell-on clause inserted on his contract by his former side Vasalund IF.

Ouma keen for new European challenge but AIK’s high asking price blocking potential moves

11MAN recently saw one of its clients - Luis Palma - secure a transfer from Aris to Scottish giants Celtic FC, and boasts of engineering big moves like; Idrissa Gueye from Everton to PSG, and Nicolas Anelka’s transfer from Arsenal to Real Madrid.