Kenya captain joins as Al Arabi seek to bounce back following a woeful 2024/25 season.
Qatar’s Al Arabi have signed striker Michael Olunga, the club announced on Saturday, bringing the Kenyan national team captain back to the Qatari league.
Olunga signed a two-year deal to become the latest to arrive in what has been a busy transfer window for Al Arabi so far.
The club had announced the return of youngsters Al-Hashmi Al-Hussain and Salem Reda following the completion of their loan spells in Spain a day before Olunga’s signing was made official.
Olunga was seen participating in the team training shortly after his move was made official.
“New home,” Olunga wrote on X, posting pictures from the contract signing. “Ready for the task ahead.”
The Kenyan striker had recently became a free agent after his contract with Al Duhail expired at the end of the 2024/25 season, in which he scored 12 in 19 league appearances, leaving as the club’s highest-ever goalscorer. He netted 130 goals in just four seasons since arriving in 2021 from Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol.
The 31-year-old proved to be an instant linchpin, bagging the league’s highest goalscorer award, the Mansour Muftah Trophy, in his first full season with 24 goals in 2021/22. He then defended the award bagging 22 strikes the following season and was also the top-scorer in AFC Champions League 2021.
His stint with the club was also marked by the passionate group of supporters that he managed to pull from the Kenyan migrant community in Qatar.
Olunga’s signing will be a boost for Al Arabi, who are looking to bounce back following an abysmal season. The side finished ninth in the Ooredoo Stars League table, just three spots above the automatic relegation spot.
Despite possessing the likes of Marco Verratti, Rodri Sanchez and Jassim Jaber in midfield and Jordan’s Yazan Al-Naimat upfront, Al Arabi failed to put on convincing performances and changed four managers within the season.
It followed a series of disappointing seasons for one of the best-supported clubs in the country. The fervent support has not translated on the pitch and one has to go back to 1996/97 to trace their last league title.
Al Arabi’s last glory came in 2023, when they listed the Amir Cup title defeating favourites Al Sadd 3-0 in the final. Similarly, their best league in recent times came in the same season as they finished runners-up, just two points short of champions Al Duhail.
The quest to perform better has seen them land 33-year-old Spain international Pablo Sarabia from Wolverhampton Wanderers despite losing Jassim Jaber to Al Rayyan.
Rumors of Marco Verratti potentially being on the move to Al Duhail have also emerged in Italian outlets recently. The return of Al-Hussain, who was on loan at Alcorcon, and Reda from Calahorra will certainly help in mitigation, if the move goes through.
The side will head to Valencia for the pre-season training camp, scheduled from July 15 to August 3, ahead of their opening game against Al Wakrah on August 15.
