Highly-rated Harambee Stars midfielder completes move to French club
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 20.01.26. | 09:17
The highly-rated midfielder attracted international attention during last year’s CHAN tournament
Nairobi United midfielder Manzur Okwaro has completed a move to French Ligue 2 side Stade de Reims on an initial six-month loan, with an obligation for the club to sign him permanently at the end of the season.
Okwaro rose to international prominence during last year’s CHAN tournament hosted in Kenya, where he was arguably the national team’s standout performer after successfully transitioning from defence into midfield.
Originally a central defender, Okwaro primarily featured as a left-back during his time at KCB FC. His breakthrough came during CHAN when Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy, short on midfield options, deployed him in the middle of the park.
The move paid off immediately, with Okwaro stealing the show and earning plaudits from former Stars captain Victor Wanyama.
“I think the surprise for me was Manzur [Suleiman] playing so well. Also, Austine (Odhiambi). People had been thinking you can only do it at club level, but he got his chance, and he did really well,” Wanyama said.
His impressive performances attracted interest from several clubs both locally and abroad, leading to his switch from KCB FC to Nairobi United earlier this season.
Under the terms of the deal with Reims, the left-footed player will spend the remainder of the season on loan before joining the French side permanently on a four-year contract, which has already been agreed.
Nairobi United Director of Operations Osman Khalif confirmed the move and wished Okwaro well at his new club.
“As a club, our goal is to see our players prosper, and we are happy to see Manzur take this step. He is a young, ambitious player, and we are confident he will succeed in France. There was a lot of interest in him from clubs across Africa and Europe, but we felt, alongside his handlers, that Reims would provide the best environment for his career growth. We wish him all the best,” Khalif said.
An alumnus of powerhouse St. Anthony’s Boys Kitale, Okwaro began his career at the now-defunct Rainbow FC before moving to KCB FC and eventually Nairobi United.
Along the way, he attended trials abroad. In 2023, he spent time in France with Nantes B FC alongside midfielder Linus Munyao but did not earn a contract.
In 2024, he had a month-long trial in Sweden with an unnamed club, which also did not materialize into a deal before he returned to Kenya to sign with KCB FC.
At the international level, Okwaro progressed through the ranks, representing Kenya at the U18 and U20 levels before making his senior team breakthrough in 2025.
At Reims, Okwaro will link up with Harambee Stars assistant captain Joseph Okumu, who is currently sidelined with an injury.
