Nairobi City Stars are set to receive a significant financial boost following the high-profile transfer of Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma to Czech giants Slavia Prague.
Ouma completed a move to Slavia Prague in a deal reportedly worth 40 million Kronor (Ksh473 million), which was paid to Swedish club IF Elfsborg. Elfsborg had inserted a 20 percent sell-on clause in his contract, meaning they will benefit from any future sale of the player. However, before Elfsborg starts counting their future earnings, Nairobi City Stars are already celebrating their payday.
City Stars, where Ouma played before moving to Sweden in 2022, will receive compensation under FIFA’s solidarity mechanism, a rule designed to reward clubs that develop young talents.
FIFA Solidarity Payments Favor City Stars
FIFA regulations dictate that if a player is transferred before the expiration of their contract, five percent of the transfer fee is allocated to the clubs that contributed to the player’s training and development between the ages of 12 and 23.
Since Ouma is currently 20 years old, five percent of his Ksh473 million transfer translates to approximately Ksh23.5 million. This amount is usually distributed among multiple clubs involved in a player’s development, but in this case, City Stars will claim the entire sum.
Ouma honed his skills at Laiser Hill Academy before joining City Stars, but because the academy is not a FIFA-recognized club, it is not eligible for a share of the solidarity payment. As a result, City Stars will enjoy the full windfall, making it one of the most profitable transfers for a Kenyan club in recent years.
Another Lucrative Transfer for City Stars
This is not the first time City Stars have benefited from a major transfer. In 2013, they were among the clubs that received a share of over Ksh90 million from Victor Wanyama’s £12.5 million move from Celtic to Southampton.
With Ouma now under a four-and-a-half-year contract with Slavia Prague until June 2029, the Czech club will be looking to develop him further. If he makes another move before turning 23, City Stars could once again be in line for another financial reward, making his transfer a long-term investment for the FKF Premier League club.
Ouma’s move to Slavia Prague marks a major step in his career, and as he aims to impress in the Czech league, City Stars will be watching closely, hoping for yet another payday in the future.
