From Nairobi streets to EPL icon: How Victor Wanyama became Kenya’s most successful footballer

Victor Wanyama is considered Kenya’s best football export given his meteoric rise that saw him become the first and only player from the country to play in the prestigious English Premier League.

Wanyama played for Southampton for three years before making the switch to Tottenham Hotspur, where he enjoyed his best years as a footballer.

He would leave after nearly four years for the MLS, where he played for CF Montreal, closing a chapter in Europe that also included successful stints in Sweden, Belgium and Scotland.

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But how did it start?

Victor Wanyama was born on June 25 1991 to father Noah Wanyama and mother Mildred in Nairobi.

Noah was himself a revered footballer, who played for AFC Leopards, while Mildred was a netball player.

His elder brothers Sylvester Wanyama and McDonald Mariga were also footballers, the latter playing for a host of European teams, such as Real Sociedad and Real Oviedo in Spain and Italian sides Latina, Parma and Inter Milan, where he won the UEFA Champions League in 2010.

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That made it easy to fall in love with the beautiful game as he could accompany his brothers to training while his father was the key support system.

The family lived in Land Mawe in Nairobi's Muthurwa estate, where he draws the nickname 'The Lion of Muthurwa,' and due to their life struggles, they knew football could be the only one to save them from poverty.

Victor Wanyama’s football talent was discovered and nurtured at Kamkunji High School in Nairobi after which he joined the JMJ Academy, who would later loan him out to Kenyan sides AFC Leopards and Nairobi City Stars.

That gave Victor Wanyama the football education and fountain he needed to make it as a professional player and it was not long before he left the country.

The midfielder moved to Europe in 2007 to join Swedish club Helsingborg, playing for one year, before switching to Belgium where he signed for Germinal Beerschot. It was here that Victor Wanyama made a name as one of Europe’s best young defensive midfielders and after three years, Scottish giants Celtic came calling for £900,000.

At Celtic, Victor Wanyama quickly became a cult hero with his impressive performances for Neil Lennon’s side. Besides winning two league titles, Wanyama’s stock rose when he scored against Barcelona in the Champions League as Celtic pulled off a 2-1 shock in 2012-13.

At the end of that season, Victor Wanyama joined Premier League club Southampton for £12.5 million, making history as the first Kenyan in the English top flight.

Wanyama had three great years at Southampton, playing 94 games and scoring four goals, under Mauricio Pochettino and then Ronald Koeman.

After three great years in the English South Coast, Tottenham Hotspur came calling when Pochettino, at Spurs that time, went for one of his former proteges.

Victor Wanyama moved to Whitehat Lane in June 2016 for £11 million, signing a five-year contract, but lasted four years, the first two of which he was a key cog for Spurs, managing seven goals in 97 matches after which he moved to the US.

Victor Wanyama left Tottenham after becoming a bit-part player in North London with injuries and poor form hampering him.

He picked up a knee injury during the 2017-18 season while playing against Chelsea and needed surgery which kept him out for four months.

He returned to action but misfortune struck again when he was injured in preseason ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

These injuries reduced Victor Wanyama's influence and he started losing his spot in the team, having to contend with spells on the bench upon his return.

The 2018-19 season is when Tottenham went all the way to the Champions League final but Victor Wanyama played a peripheral role and got just a few minutes in the decisive match when Spurs lost 2-0 to Liverpool.

Victor Wanyama signed for MLS club CF Montreal in March 2020 and went on to play for the club until November 2024.

Like his spell at Tottenham, Victor Wanyama enjoyed his first three years in Montreal but turned into a bench warmer in the final two seasons.

By the end of his contract, it was clear that Montreal were not going to extend his deal and he left in November 2024.

The central midfielder made 64 appearances for Kenya, captaining the country at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, before retiring from international football in 2021.

According to Salary Sport, Victor Wanyama is worth $12 million from his football earnings and brand endorsements.

Victor Wanyama was the highest paid player at CF Montreal during his near five-year stay on a salary of $1,800,000, which was his annual guaranteed compensation, with his basic salary standing at $1,440,000.

At Southampton, he reportedly earned £30,000 per week while at Tottenham he was on a reported £80,000 weekly salary.