- Harambee Stars Winger Job Ochieng’ is on the verge of extending his stay with La Liga side Real Sociedad.
- Ochieng’s contract deal comes just a day after he made his senior debut on Saturday, February 7, against Elche.
- The winger has already been offered a new deal, believed to run for at least two seasons, with the agreement now close to being finalized.
Harambee Stars sensational winger Job Ochieng’ is on the verge of extending his stay with La Liga outfit Real Sociedad.
According to reports from Spanish Outlet El Diario Vasco, Ochieng has already been offered a new deal believed to span at least two seasons, with the agreement now nearly finalized.
The 23-year-old’s extension comes just days after he made his senior La Liga debut on Saturday, February 7, becoming the third player this season to graduate from the club’s youth ranks to the first team.
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Harambee Stars Winger Job Ochieng’ on the verge of extending his stay at Real Sociedad
Job Ochieng’s week couldn’t have gone better. His debut in La Liga on Saturday against Elche is now followed by a contract extension, agreed upon except for a few final details, for a minimum of two seasons – a well-deserved reward for a player who has been having a fantastic season with Sanse,” according to Diario Vasco.
He came off the bench in the 64th minute, replacing Goncalo Guedes during a 3–1 victory over Elche at the Reale Arena.
Ochieng, who joined Sociedad from Maspalomas back in 2022, was on a two-year deal set to expire in June, which would have made him a free agent in just five months.
However, the Sanse winger has become one to watch, training with the first team in recent weeks due to injuries to Kubo, Barrenetxea, and Zakharyan in attack, leaving manager Matarazzo with Guedes as his only fit natural winger.
Reports note that, given this situation, Matarazzo did not hesitate to call Ochieng’ up after watching him in action for Sanse (Real Sociedad B) against Albacete in Zubieta.
In that match, Ochieng had a goal disallowed for a narrow offside following a promising run and finish. The game ultimately ended in a goalless draw.
He has been training under the new first-team boss for nearly a month since then and has been named in the squad for four league matches: against Barcelona, Celta Vigo, Elche at Anoeta, and for the derby at San Mames.
He was left out of the Copa del Rey squad midweek due to selection limits, with Matarazzo opting for Dani Díaz in attack but Saturday finally presented his opportunity, and the coach gave him the nod.
Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo hails Ochieng as a valuable asset after La Liga debut
Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo has praised Ochieng as an exceptionally quick player and a genuine asset to the squad, emphasizing that the La Liga side sees him as part of their future.
He’s a player who brings speed and depth. He’s a very valuable asset in many situations. That’s why he played – because we needed exactly that profile: deep runs, pace, and straightforward defensive duties where he can focus on marking his man. It was the perfect scenario for his first minutes, and he did a good job,” Matarazzo said.
The new deal for the Kenyan youngster marks the high point of a journey that began at Ligi Ndogo Academy in Kenya before progressing through Real Sociedad’s reserve setup.
His top-flight debut places him alongside McDonald Mariga, who made over ten appearances on loan from Inter Milan in the 2011/12 season, and Michael Olunga, who famously scored a hat-trick for Girona against Las Palmas in 2017.