Former Arsenal defender hails Harambee Stars forward after making Real Sociedad debut
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 09.02.26. | 19:36
The forward is a versatile attacker capable of playing as a striker or out wide
Former Arsenal and Real Sociedad left-back Nacho Monreal has congratulated Harambee Stars forward Job Ochieng following his historic LaLiga debut for the Basque giants, with the Kenyan star now represented by Monreal’s agency Global Ases.
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The former Spain international, who spent five successful seasons at Sociedad after leaving Arsenal, took to Instagram to praise his client after Saturday’s match against Elche.
“One more step, you deserve it!! Great job, Job Ochieng,” Monreal posted.
After retiring from professional football, Monreal ventured into player representation and now works with Global Ases, an agency that manages Ochieng’s career and transfer affairs.
His public endorsement reflects both personal pride and professional confidence in the youngster’s growing stature.
Ochieng entered the history books on Saturday evening after featuring in Real Sociedad’s 3-1 victory over Elche at the Anoeta Stadium.
The 22-year-old came on in the 65th minute to replace Portugal international Goncalo Guedes, marking his long-awaited debut in Spain’s top flight.
His composed display earned him a 6.6 match rating, highlighting his smooth adaptation to elite-level football. The appearance came just two weeks after he had been named on the bench, signalling increasing trust from the technical bench.
With that outing, Ochieng became only the second Kenyan to play for Real Sociedad in La Liga after McDonald Mariga, now the FKF deputy president.
He is also just the third Kenyan to feature in the Spanish top tier, following Mariga and Michael Olunga.
Ochieng’s rise has been built on patience and resilience. After leaving Ligi Ndogo in 2019, he joined Maspalomas’ youth academy in Spain, where he spent three seasons developing his game.
A trial with Las Palmas did not result in a contract, but he remained focused, earning a move to Real Sociedad in 2022.
He initially joined the club’s C team before earning promotion to Sociedad B a year later. In May 2025, he signed a two-year deal with the reserve side, pushing him closer to first-team football.
His former club, Ligi Ndogo FC, benefited from his progress, receiving a development fee of over Ksh20 million.
The forward made his Harambee Stars debut in August 2025 during Kenya’s World Cup qualifier against The Gambia at Kasarani, gaining valuable international experience.
Ochieng is a versatile attacker capable of playing as a striker or out wide. Spanish outlet La Provincia has described him as “a quick forward with an eye for goal, strong with both feet and skilled in dribbling”, while also praising his physicality and defensive contribution.
His style has been likened to that of former Sociedad and Liverpool striker Alexander Isak.
