Timothy Ouma signs on loan
Kenyan Timothy Ouma has joined Charlton from Slavia Prague. The 22-year old midfielder will join compatriot Collins Sichenje in SE7.The loan deal has an option to buy.
Ouma is probably unknown to everyone other than the most ardent of European league watchers.
Born in Nairobi, Ouma has played in Sweden, Poland and Czechia and has been exposed to a lot of European Cup competition. Earlier in the summer he looked set to join Partizan Belgrade on loan with an option to buy before the Addicks stole in.
Slavia Prague paid around £3 million for him when they signed him from Elfsberg in February 2025.
The midfielder has 12 caps for Kenya and has been described as one of Kenya’s greatest footballing exports.
Ouma is meant to be athletic, strong and plays with a lot of energy. Quick to break up play, has composure under pressure, and likes to transition between boxes quickly. Sounds like a Kenyan Mark Kinsella. We’ll see!
A loan deal with an option to buy sounds a responsible negotiation. Gavin Carter said we’ll end up spending fees similar to last year, so do we have some dosh burning a hole in our pocket? .
We’re going to need to open a club shop in Nairobi…
Or another Keith Jones who did a similar job ?
He seems to fit the bill for what we need, and he has a fair bit of experience for someone so young, so let’s hope this works out well for everyone.
The only note of concern would be some early discipline issues at Lech Poznań, but he did go on to feature a lot in their title winning team, so they must been resolved. I’m sure that NJ won’t stand for any nonsense!
Got fairly excited this morning by rumours of a Kaminski exit, which I hope are true. That would leave us needing a new No.1 and the right-winger that NJ has mentioned, though I still think Apter may have a role to play, if he has less defensive responsibilities…
This one could be exciting but comes with a volatility tag given the number of clubs and an early disciplinary on his record at a young age. It looks like he will add some pace and energy. That said, I thought we had that under our nose with Anderson and I would have loved him to have been given more game time to develop, i expect that one will bite us hard one day. We can’t keep them all, and do need to churn the squad at times, but also need to ensure we get true value. Apter cost £2.5m and Olafe £1.5, neither can hold a candle To TC and we will be lucky to get the same for him (I know where my money would be on those transaction!). TC is a marmite player but for some reason get undue stick. If he could tackle like Steve Brown and head a ball like Kermogrant, he would be Ronaldo! He is a fragile lad, not dissimilar to Johnny Williams, yet the latter was given all the encouragement needed.
Let’s hope Timothy turns out to be the warhorse in midfield that we need (could be ann exciting new partnership with Challobah) and that TC/ Leaburn stay and we get to see the finished article for once!
COYA
I have to say that he sounds like an exciting addition, particularly as he is a loanee. I look forward to seeing him in action.