Harambee Stars boast of European-born players who opted to play for Kenya. Here are some of the biggest names.
Like many countries, Kenya is blessed with footballing talent, both born within the country and outside.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has, in recent times, successfully enticed a handful of players with Kenyan roots to forgo their ambitions of playing for their countries of birth in favour of representing Harambee Stars. While resistance has been witnessed in some instances, a handful of European-born players with Kenyan roots have since established themselves as regulards in the Harambee Stars squad.
Pulse Sports reveals everything you need to know about the European-born players who have played for the national team Harambee Stars.
3 European-born players who represent Harambee Stars
1. Daniel Anyembe
Daniel Anyembe in action for Harambee Stars.
Daniel Francis Anyembe is a name loved in Kenyan football circles. The 26-year-old plays as a right-back for Danish Superliga club Viborg FF. Although he was born in Denmark on July 22, 1998, the attacking-minded full-back plays for Harambee Stars.
Anyembe was born in Denmark to a Kenyan father and Danish mother and is a youth international for Denmark, having played up to the U23 level. However, he switched his international allegiance to Harambee Stars in March 2023.
He was called up to the Harambee Stars squad for the friendly match against Iran. Anyembe will hope to be part of Benni McCarthy’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Gabon this month, having been a mainstay at Viborg.
His playing career began at Esbjerg’s academy in 2009 before promotion to the first team in the 2017/18 season for which he made his European debut in a 2-0 loss to Belarussian side Shakhtyor Soligorsk in a UEFA Europa League qualifying round.
2. Jonah Ayunga
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Jonah Ayunga in a past action for St. Mirren.
Just like former Harambee Stars midfielder and captain Victor Wanyama, Jonah Ayunga is proving himself a cut above in the Scottish Premiership.
The English-born striker currently plays for Saint Mirren. Ayunga signed a two-year contract with St Mirren in June 2022. After rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in January 2023, he signed a contract extension until summer 2025.
Born in England to a Kenyan father and English mother, Ayunga received his first call up to Harambee Stars on August 5, 2016, but did not make his debut in that camp. In March 2024, he earned a recall to the set-up and Ayunga made his debut for the side on March 23 2024 as a stoppage-time substitute during their 4–0 win over Malawi.
In November 2024, Ayunga scored his first international goal for Kenya in a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe.
3. Adam Wilson
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Bristol City’s Adam Wilson
Wilson, who has a Kenyan parent, played for England at Under-18 level. He made his debut in March 2018, making four appearances in total. It was last year in May that he was finally called up to the Haraambee Stars team. Born in Ashington, England, Adam Wilson began his career at Newcastle United, signing a new contract with the club in July 2020.
He moved to Welsh club The New Saints in September 2022 where he scored seven goals in 22 appearances in all competitions for the club, winning the league title and Welsh Cup double, and being named the Supporters’ Player of the Year.
Wilson signed for Bradford City on August 28, 2023 on a three-year contract. After losing his first-team place, Wilson returned to his former club The New Saints on a season-long loan deal in August 2024. With TNS he made European history, becoming the first Welsh club to qualify for the group stages of the UEFA Conference League, with Wilson appearing for TNS in the competition.