Rising Stars captain ready to leave mark at Spanish giants, make Kenya proud

Kenya Under-20 captain Amos Wanjala says he wants to “make the most” of his new opportunity at Spanish side Valencia CF, just a day after signing with the club’s reserve team VCF Mestalla.

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Wanjala was on Sunday, 25 January unveiled as the Academy’s first signing of the current transfer window, ending his 15-month association with Spanish fifth tier side Athletic Club Torrellano.

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The 19-year-old defender, in an interview with the club, said he was proud of linking up with the highly regarded academy, all while flying his country and family’s flag high.

“I am very happy to be here at Valencia CF. It is a great club with great history,” Wanjala said in a club video on Monday, which also featured him speaking Spanish in a couple of instances.

“The Valencia CF Academy is a great Academy. It is a great opportunity for me, and I want to make the most of it and achieve more success with Valencia CF.”

Given the nature of his deal, Wanjala, should he impress at Valencianista reserve side, stands a chance at earning promotion to the senior team, Valencia CF.

The Valencia academy system ranks as one of the best in Europe, and was in 2023 voted sixth with the most trained players competing in the five big leagues (England, Germany, France, Italy and Spain), according to a CIES Football Observatory report.

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Some of the stand-out names to have gone through its system include: former Manchester City player David Silva, former Real Madrid midfielder Isco Alarcon, Arsenal defender Cristhian Mosquera, Barca’s Ferran Torres, and Carlos Soler of PSG.

“I am very happy to be able to represent my country here in Valencia,” Wanjala, who described himself in the video as a centre-back who is “calm and composed, solid and good on the ball,” said.

“It is an achievement for my country, for myself and for my family. I know my family is very happy. They have been with me throughout this journey.

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"Now it is time to bear fruit, and I am also very happy to be here. I know many Kenyans are looking forward to seeing me at Valencia CF and this is the moment. I am fully focused on the team.”

VCF Mestalla currently competes in the Segunda RFEF - Group 3, where they lie 12th in the 18-team standings with 24 points from 20 matches.

They next play Alcoyano at their state-of-the-art training complex - Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna - on Saturday, 31 January.