Kenya Under-20 captain Amos Emmanuel Wanjala has completed a major career move after signing a two-year contract with Spanish La Liga club Valencia CF, marking one of the most significant transfers involving a young Kenyan footballer in recent years.
The 19-year-old central defender sealed the deal after successfully completing his medical and contractual formalities, with Valencia confirming that Wanjala will initially play for VCF Mestalla, the club’s reserve team.
His signing comes as Valencia continues to invest in young international talent as part of its long-term development strategy.
Amos Wanjala is widely regarded as one of Kenya’s most promising defensive prospects. He rose to national prominence while playing school football at St Anthony’s Boys High School, where his performances in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) championships earned him widespread recognition.
His leadership qualities and defensive consistency later saw him handed the captain’s armband for the Kenya U20 national team, where he impressed in regional and continental competitions.
Wanjala is known for his strong aerial ability, positional discipline, and maturity beyond his age — attributes that have attracted interest from European scouts.
Amos Wanjala moved to Spain in 2023. He earned a scholarship to join the Nàstic Sports Academy in Tarragona, Spain, after helping St. Anthony’s Boys High School win the national title in August 2023, which marked the beginning of his European football journey.
From there, he progressed through the academy system and signed professional terms with Spanish clubs as he continued his development.
He joined Athletic Club Torrellano, where he featured in the Tercera Federación, Spain’s fourth tier. His performances at Torrellano played a key role in securing his move to Valencia, with scouts closely monitoring his progress over several months.
Valencia CF confirmed that Wanjala joins on a two-year deal, giving the club time to assess his growth while integrating him into their competitive system. He becomes one of the few Kenyan players to sign for a club competing in La Liga, Spain’s top division.
Although Wanjala will not immediately feature for the senior team, he is expected to play a central role at VCF Mestalla, Valencia’s reserve side, which competes in Spain’s lower professional leagues. Mestalla serves as a crucial pathway to the first team, with several Valencia stars having progressed through the setup.
His signing follows recent European moves by other Kenyan youngsters, reinforcing the belief that local talent can compete at elite levels when exposed to the right structures.