Kenya U20 team captain poised to ignite Spanish second tier after landing deal
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 08.09.25. | 12:59
In July, when Aldrine Kibet sealed his transfer to Celta Vigo’s reserve side, former Sports CS Ababu Namwamba hinted that Wanjala was also on the verge of joining Elche
Kenya U20 football team captain Amos Wanjala is set to join Spanish second-tier side UD Almería in January 2026; his representative, David Kenga, has confirmed.
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The 19-year-old central defender, who moved to Spain in 2023, was initially expected to sign for La Liga side Elche after training with the club, but the deal collapsed in the final stages.
Instead, Wanjala extended his stay with his current team, Athletic Club Torrellano CF, though that arrangement now appears short-term.
In July, when Aldrine Kibet sealed his transfer to Celta Vigo’s reserve side, former Sports CS Ababu Namwamba hinted that Wanjala was also on the verge of joining Elche.
Namwamba hailed the potential double move as a milestone for the now-defunct Talanta Hela program, which offered young Kenyan players a platform to showcase their talent abroad.
“We dreamt big, we believed, and it is here, Celta Vigo and Elche CF, respectively,” Namwamba said at the time.
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“For those who wondered or questioned Talanta Hela, these are the fruits of a revolutionary vision. Identify. Nurture. Monetize. From school competitions, through the Kenya Academy of Sports, to Nastic Soccer Academy in Tarragona, and now into elite professional football.”
However, Wanjala’s transfer to Elche fell through after weeks of training with the club.
According to his agent, contract terms proved a stumbling block.
“Amos trained with Elche for a month, but we couldn’t finalise the contract terms,” Kenga told Citizen Digital.
"UD Almería had already expressed interest and were ready to complete the signing before the transfer window closed. Unfortunately, delays in processing his work permit in Spain prevented the deal. We’re confident the move will go through in January.”
Highly regarded as one of Kenya’s brightest defensive prospects, Wanjala has already represented the country at U18, U20, and U23 levels, and is seen as a future cornerstone of the Harambee Stars backline.
He also has a senior team call-up against his name.
