This archive report was first published on 5 September 2021.
September 5, 2021, marks a significant milestone for Kenyan football as 19-year-old striker Henry Atola Meja joins Swedish top-tier side AIK Football Club.
Meja, who has been a key player for Tusker FC, has signed a five-year deal that will keep him at AIK until September 1, 2026.
“AIK Football has agreed with Tusker FC on a transfer of the 19-year-old Kenyan national team forward, Henry Atola Meja,” AIK said in a statement.
Meja will link up with compatriot Eric Ouma Marcelo, and he expressed his excitement about the opportunity, saying, “I am very happy that I get this opportunity. AIK as a club suits me perfectly and I have got a great impression of everyone I have met.”
He also looked forward to playing with Eric, stating, “It’s also fun to play with Eric (Otieno). Now I look forward to showing what I can to my teammates and the club’s supporters.”
AIK sports director Henrik Jurelius emphasized the club's long-term approach, saying, “Henry is a talented player that we hope to be able to refine. We have signed a long agreement where we want to work long-term and are well aware that it is a big process and a longer acclimatization period that awaits.”
Meja's impressive performance for Tusker FC in the 2020/21 Football Kenya Federation Premier League season, where he scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 22 matches, has earned him a spot in the Harambee Stars squad fighting for the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualification.
