Revealed: The millions Kenyan clubs received in transfer fees in 2024

Stanley Wilson's Ksh25.8m move to Swedish club AIK Fotboll was the top transfer of 2024.

Revealed: The millions Kenyan clubs received in transfer fees in 2024

Joel Omotto 11:02 - 31.01.2025

Kenyan teams witnessed a significant increase in the transfer fees paid to them for players who signed for clubs abroad, but just how much did they receive?

Kenyan clubs received just over Ksh42 million in transfer fees from the sale of players to clubs out of the country.

The country witnessed a significant increase in the amount of money paid out for the talents that moved elsewhere with 37 players ditching Kenya for other countries in 2024.

According to the FIFA Global Transfer Report released on Thursday, Kenyan clubs received a total of €316,487 (Ksh42,507,369) from the 37 players that were sold out of the country last year, which was a 76.2 per cent increase, from the previous year.

However, the report does not indicate what Kenyan clubs spent on new talents in 2024, failing to lift the lid on the secret transfer deals of Kenyan clubs, but indicates that 36 players come into the leagues from other countries, a 44 per cent increase, on the 25 that arrived in 2023.

Most players who arrived from the country last year came from Uganda (eight), followed by Tanzania (six) and five from Rwanda.

The report does not reveal which transfer deal brought in the most money for Kenyan clubs but Stanley Wilson’s $200,000 (Ksh25.8 million) move from Kariobangi Sharks to Swedish club AIK Fotboll in August 2024 is believed to be the top.

The transfer accounts for over half of the Ksh42.5 million total paid out to Kenyan clubs while Benson Omala’s move to Lebanese side Al-Safa is also believed to have been a costly transfer although the figures were not provided.

Omala has since severed ties with the club over a disagreement on the contractual terms but K’Ogalo are believed to have received a good amount.

The $40,000 (Ksh5.17 million) paid to Gor Mahia for the botched transfer of Rooney Onyango by Tanzanian club Singida Big Stars could also be part of the outlay even though the Tanzanian club is now demanding a refund after the defender turned down the move.

As per the report, the year 2022 remains the most lucrative for Kenyan clubs, as they received over €391,000 (Ksh52.5 million) in transfer fees, a figure yet to be beaten.