‘Great defender’: Director thrilled to beat Celtic and Rangers to £3m signing; deal done

Follow us on Google Discover

Belgian outfit KAA Gent are thrilled to have beaten Celtic and Rangers to the signing of a ‘great central defender’ in the shape of Joseph Okumu, sporting director Tim Matthys told the club’s official website. 

At the age of 24, the Kenyan international had made no secret of his desire to try something new after two years in Swedish football.

The Allsvenskan, he said, was a ‘springboard’ for young players and it always felt likely that Okumu would use Elfsborg as a stepping stone en route to something bigger and better.

Aftonbladet reported in March that Rangers were interested and, at the time, a move to Ibrox felt like the natural next step for a defender who, according to Elfsborg director Stefan Andreasson, had blossomed into ‘one of the best players’ ever to feature in the top flight of Swedish football.

Quite a claim.

Will Rangers and Celtic regret missing out on Joseph Okumu?

Okumu, then, will be under pressure to live up to that lofty billing as he prepares for life in Belgium, with Gent having fought off clubs from France and Scotland to secure his £3 million-rated signature.

“Joseph is a great central defender who will also add footballing ability to our defence,” Matthys said. 

“He has a very good vertical passing and it is no coincidence that he has attracted the attention of many clubs. We are glad he chose us.”

Matthys is not the first to highlight Okumu’s impressive passing range.

In fact, his trademark diagonals had even led to comparisons with a certain Virgil van Dijk, at a time in which Okumu was being tipped to follow in the Dutchman’s footsteps with a move to Scotland’s second city.

Celtic were also linked a few weeks ago, via Aftonbladet, with defensive reinforcements an absolute must for a side who looked about as secure as an open window at Alcatraz during a miserable 2020/21 campaign.

Their loss, however, could be Gent’s gain.

“Financially, this is one of IF Elfsborg’s biggest ever sales,” Andreasson explained to Expressen.

“We are extremely proud of Joseph’s time at IF Elfsborg. In a short time, he has developed into one of the Allsvenskan’s absolutely best players and has forever taken a place in our Elfsborg hearts.”