Kenyan midfielder Eric Johana joins Romanian club

Harambee Stars midfielder Eric Johana Omondi has sealed a move to Romanian Liga I club UTA Arad as a free agent on a two-year deal.

The player finally has a new home in Romania, three months after he left Thai club Muangthong following the expiration of his contract.

Started in 1945 as IT Arad, the club won six national titles and two Cupa Romaniei. Domestically, UTA is one of the most successful Romanian sides of the 20th century, sharing with Chinezul Timișoara the record for the most title wins outside Bucharest.

They last won the league title in 1972, the same year they graced the quarterfinals of the UEFA Europa League.

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The club has released a statement confirming the arrival of the well-traveled midfielder, who landed in Romania on Sunday to sign his deal.

“Striker Eric Johana Omondi arrived in Arad today and will join the team led by Mircea Rednic,” read part of the statement posted by the club.

“The 29-year-old striker, born on August 18, 1994, in Nairobi, Kenya, started football in his native country at Mathare United. He made the step to Europe in the Swedish championship at Vasalunds IF, and in northern Europe he also played for Brommapojkarna and J-Södra. Belgian team Beveren and Thai team Muangthong United are the other teams where our new striker played. In the recently concluded season, he scored ten goals and provided three decisive assists in 28 appearances".

The midfielder will don jersey number 24, the same number he donned during his time at his first professional club, Mathare United.

“Eric has collected 36 caps for Kenya's senior national team, for which he scored six goals. Omondi will wear jersey number 24 for the next two seasons. We wish him a welcome and as many goals as possible for UTA”.

UTA are currently 14th in the top-tier table with ten points after 11 rounds of league matches, an indicator of the task that the Kenyan international faces at his new club.

His club’s next game is against Rapid Bucuresti on Friday evening, and he could make his bow in the Romanian League on Friday.

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