5 Kenyan footballers who have played in EPL

• English Premier League is one of the international football stages and the most watched and admired League
• Many Kenyan footballers have yet to be successful, eyeing to have a feel by playing in this prestigious League, but only some have made it over time
• Though some might be born and raised in Kenya or outside the country, they have Kenyan roots

Sportsleo takes a look at Kenyan footballers who have played in EPL. The English Premier League(EPL) is one of the international football stages and the most watched and admired league by footballers and fanatics worldwide due to the reputation it has created over the years.

Many Kenyan footballers have yet to be successful, eyeing to have a feel by playing in this prestigious league, but only some have made it over time.

In this article, we present some Kenyan footballers who have played in EPL; though some might be either born and raised in Kenya or outside the country, they have Kenyan roots.

1. Victor Wanyama

Victor Wanyama is a Kenyan professional footballer who specializes as a defensive midfielder. He was the first Kenyan footballer to play in Premier League.

Wanyama joined the EPL through Southampton, signing him straight from Celtic, and later moved to Tottenham Hotspur. He was part of Spurs squad that reached the Champions League final in 2019, losing 2-0 to Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Wanyama secured a move to CF Montréal following the expiry of his current. After a four-year spell in the United States, he returned to Europe joining Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic FC.

2. Divock Origi

Origi, considered the most successful Kenyan footballer, made his debut in the limelight in 2014 after scoring for Belgium in the World Cup when he scored for Belgium to proceed to the next round. He got signed by FC Liverpool immediately after the World Cup, where they successfully won the Champions League. He also helped Liverpool win the English Premier League title, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and EFL Cup.

Origi left England in 2019 and joined Italian giants AC Milan where he has since been playing. He had a short spell in the Premier League during the 2023-24 season when he joined Nottingham Forest on loan.

3. Martin and Marcus Olsson

Martin Olsson was born to a Swedish father and a Kenyan Kikuyu mother. He has a twin brother named Marcus and the two made their professional debuts while at Derby County. Martin signed with Swansea City in January 2017 and had the chance to play in the Premier League.  He also played for Norwich City.

Martin returned to Sweden in 2019 and has since played for Helsingborgs IF, BK Hacken and Malmo FF. Marcus also played in the Premier League for Blackburn Rovers before securing a transfer to Derby County in 2019. He is currently playing for Halmstad in Sweden.

4. Tyler Onyango

Tyler Onyango is a Kenyan professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder. He was born to Kenyan and British parents.

Onyango started his football journey at Premier League club Everton going through the club’s youth set-up. He made his first-team debut in November 2021 during a Premier League clash between Everton and Manchester City. He made two more appearances in the EPL before being loaned out to Burton Albion, Forest Green Rovers and Stockport County.

Kenyan Footballers Who Have Played In England

Jonah Ayunga

Jonah Ayunga is a Kenyan professional footballer who has played in England. The 28-year-old joined Brighton & Hove Albion in 2016 and spent two years at the club before signing with Sutton United. He has also played in the lower divisions of English football for Havant &Waterlooville, Bristol Rovers and Morecambe. Since 2022, he has been playing for St Mirren.

Ayunga joined The Kenya National football Harambee Stars team in 2016 and has so far made four appearances, scoring one goal.

Brooklyn Mwadime Kazungu

The young Midfielder Brooklyn Mwadime was born in the United Kingdom to a Kenyan father. His father is from Kilifi, Kenya. Mwadime made a name for himself while playing for Leicester City in the Under 15 team. Prior, Mwadime was to join Tottenham but joined the Foxes instead. In 2024, Brooklyn Mwadime was playing for Exeter City under-18s and also played for the youth team of Arlesey Town.