Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma has taken another major step in his career after joining English Championship side Charlton Athletic on a season-long loan from Czech champions Slavia Prague.
The 22-year-old completed the move on Monday, August 10, with Charlton confirming that the deal includes an option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season.
Ouma arrives in England after a season in Poland, where he spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Lech Poznan.
The Kenyan international made 34 appearances for the Polish giants and played a key role as they clinched the Ekstraklasa league title.
His move makes him Charlton’s seventh signing of the summer as the London club strengthens its squad for life in the Championship.
Charlton Athletic spent the 2025/26 season in the English Championship after winning promotion from League One the previous campaign.
In their first season back in the second tier, the Addicks finished 19th, collecting 53 points from 46 matches, comfortably avoiding relegation and securing another season in the Championship.
Charlton Secure Timothy Ouma’s Signature
Speaking after completing the transfer, Ouma expressed his delight at joining the club and promised to give his all for the team.
“I’m grateful to be here. I’ll give my all and do my best to help the team achieve. I’m looking forward to seeing the supporters and hearing them cheer every tackle, every duel and every goal,” he told Charlton’s official website.
Also Read: Stars Abroad: The Making of Kenyan Midfield Maestro Timothy Ouma
Charlton manager Nathan Jones said the club had been following the midfielder for a long time before finally securing his services.
“We’re delighted to get Timothy over the line. He’s a player that we’ve monitored for a long, long time and he comes with real good pedigree. He’s an athletic, technical midfield player who has had some good experience and he’ll add real quality to our midfield,” said Jones.
According to Jones, Ouma’s appeal lies in his athleticism, technical qualities and experience despite his young age.
Charlton Athletic and Slavia Prague have not disclosed the financial terms of the loan agreement.
Ouma’s wages under the loan arrangement have also not been made public.
The deal includes an option for Charlton Athletic to sign Ouma permanently at the end of the 2026/27 season, although the fee attached to that option has not been disclosed.
Timothy Ouma’s Career Path
Ouma’s football journey began in Kenya with Nairobi City Stars, where he broke into senior football as a teenager.
Also Read: From Butere to the English Championship: The Rise of Collins Sichenje
The midfielder made his debut at the age of 16 and went on to establish himself as one of the brightest young talents in the Kenyan Premier League.
During his time at City Stars, he made 56 league appearances and scored seven goals before attracting interest from clubs abroad.
In 2022, he moved to Swedish side IF Elfsborg, a transfer that marked the beginning of his European adventure.
After three seasons in Sweden, Ouma developed into a key player and gained valuable continental experience.
He made 42 appearances for Elfsborg and featured 13 times in the UEFA Europa League, performances that caught the attention of bigger clubs across Europe.
His progress earned him a move to Slavia Prague in February 2025 after the Czech champions handed him a four-year contract.
However, opportunities at Slavia were limited, and he was loaned to Lech Poznan, where he rebuilt his momentum and helped the Polish club secure the league crown.
The midfielder will reunite with fellow Kenyan international Collins Sichenje, who is already part of the Charlton squad.
The two Harambee Stars players have developed a close friendship through their national team duties and are expected to help each other settle into life at the club.
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