Winger lauded as next big thing in Kenyan football undergoing trials at Sunderland

STARS ABROAD: Winger lauded as next big thing in Kenyan football undergoing trials at Sunderland

Imran Otieno 06:00 - 25.07.2023

The 19-year-old made around 60 appearances in Chelsea’s youth sides, contributing to 15 goals.

After his release by Chelsea at the start of the off season transfer window, Kenyan winger Silko Otieno Thomas is currently undergoing trials at Championship outfit, Sunderland.

The 19-year-old made around 60 appearances in Chelsea’s youth sides, contributing to 15 goals but failed to make the cut to the senior side with the Blues opting to release him.

Otieno featured for Sunderland’s Under-21s side as they battled their way to a 4-4 draw in a pre-season friendly against National League North club King’s Lynn Town.

The fleet footed right winger was on the verge of joining Sheffield United back in January who were last season promoted to the Premier League but the move failed to materialize.

He opted to stay at Chelsea but with the senior team going on a spending spree to land a plethora of stars his chances of earning a promotion to the first team dwindled.

Otieno spent the early part of his summer holiday in Dubai before jetting back to England to continue his pursuit for a new workstation.

Under manager Tony Mowbray, Sunderland who missed out on promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs have undergone a change in transfer strategy as they seek to recruit fledgling players.

The club has brought in a number of young players already, all of whom are aged 20 or under such as Jenson Seelt and Nectarios Triantis who arrived from PSV Eindhoven and Central Coast Mariners respectively.

The Black Cats have also roped in Jude Bellingham’s brother, Jobe from fellow Championship outfit Birmingham City and Luis Semedo who swapped Benfica for Sunderland.

Otieno who has featured for the England U18 side could have a boost in his chances of signing for Sunderland by the fact that he is represented by CAA Base Ltd, the same agency as the Black Cats’ players Anthony Patterson and Patrick Roberts.