Charlton Athletic have officially confirmed the signing of Kenyan international Collins Sichenje from Serbian side FK Vojvodina.
The 22-year-old centre-back joins the Addicks in a deal valued at approximately €1.9 million (Ksh 293 million), making history as the first-ever Kenyan player to represent the South London club.
Sichenje has committed his future to The Valley by signing a three-and-a-half-year contract, arriving as the team battles to climb the EFL Championship table.
ALSO READ: Harambee Stars defender Collins Sichenje completes move to Charlton Athletic
Former AFC Leopards defender Collins Sichenje
Speaking in his first interview since the move was finalized, Sichenje could not hide his excitement about joining the English side
“It feels amazing to be here. It’s a good club with good projects and yeah, I’m ready to start working.”
The defender, who has already earned eight caps for the Harambee Stars, noted that the move to the Championship represents a major milestone in his professional development.
ALSO READ: Harambee Stars defender Collins Sichenje features as 10-man FK Vojvodina fall to Partizan
“It’s a big step for my career and it’s a good opportunity to keep working and developing and help the team. So I just need to be humble and keep working, that’s the goal,” he added.
When asked to describe his attributes, he was direct about his approach to the game.
“I’m fast, I’m aggressive, I’m talkative on the pitch I’m like a leader,” he explained.
The leadership traits were reportedly key factors in Charlton’s pursuit of the defender, with the club beating out competition from the Colorado Rapids and Luton Town to secure his signature.
The transition to English football has already begun for the former AFC Leopards man who participated in his first training session at the club’s Sparrows’ Lane training facility.
Reflecting on his initial interactions with the squad and manager Nathan Jones, he noted a high level of mutual confidence.
“The manager has a lot of faith and belief. So he told me what I need to do,the right things, you know and I’ll start to learn and adapt quickly. The first impression is good. The training is intense, good,the lads are good, everyone is motivated and has good energy, so I’m happy to be here.”
Sichenje who has already earned eight caps with the national team also touched on how his international career has prepared him for the Championship. Despite his young age, his time with the Kenyan national team has provided him with a wealth of experience.
“It’s been a good experience to get those minutes at such a young age and it’s helped me to have experience in games. So I have learned a lot from those games and yeah, just to keep working,” he said while speaking to his new club’s media team.
With the London derby against QPR looming this Friday night at The Valley, the Kenyan defender is already looking forward to the possibility of making his debut under the lights.
“I can’t wait to play because I’ve been looking forward to this and yeah, I’m ready and to go,” Sichenje said.
Sichenje’s professional journey began at the Green Commandos of Kakamega School, a team famous for nurturing top Kenyan talent.
His impressive performances there quickly earned him a move to Kenyan Premier League giants AFC Leopards in 2019, where he established himself as a versatile player.
In 2021, he made his first move to Europe, joining PAOK B in Greece, before returning briefly to AFC Leopards and then moving to Swedish top-flight side AIK in 2022.
He then went on a highly successful loan to Finnish side KuPS in 2023 before joining Serbia’s FK Vojvodina, initially on loan before the move was made permanent in late 2024 after he became a defensive mainstay.
After making over 50 appearances and proving his quality in the Serbian SuperLiga, he finalized his historic move to Charlton Athletic in February 2026.