AFC Leopards midfielder Collins Shichenje moves to Sweden

Collins Shichenje of AFC Leopards in action against Bandari FC's Dennis Magige during a past match. [Stafford Ondeo, Standard]

AFC Leopards midfielder Collins Shichenje has moved to Sweden barely a month after returning to the Den.

Swedish top tier side AIK Football FC has added Collins Shichenje to its growing roster of Kenyan players after confirming on Friday the 18-year-old AFC Leopards midfielder has joined the club on a four-year deal that will keep him at the club until December 2026.

The lanky defensive midfielder returned to the den in February after an unsuccessful stint with PAOK of Greece

The Stockholm-based side is home to Harambee Stars left-back Erick Ouma and former Tusker striker Henry Atola.

“AIK Football has agreed with 18-year-old midfielder Sichenje Collins on a contract that extends until December 31, 2026. Collins last played for AFC Leopards SC in Kenya," the club statement read in part.

“With Collins, we get a physically strong fit midfielder who also showed in his club team that he can play as a central midfielder. Collins has been seen live by AIK representatives several times in the league game in Kenya, most recently in early March 2022 when chief scout Tobias Ackerman was down in Africa and saw him on-site,” club sports director Henrik Jurelius told the club website.

AFC Leopards midfielder Collins Shichenje has signed an agreement to join Swedish top tier side, AIK. He joins his other two Kenyan teammates: Eric 'Marcelo' Ouma and Henry Meja . The Kenyan midfielder has agreed on a contract that extends until December 31,2026.#ScoreCrunches pic.twitter.com/6BbGKjlmQ2 — ScoreCrunches (@ke_score) April 1, 2022

Sichenje revealed Ouma and Meja’s hand in his switch to Sweden saying they have had good things to say about the club.

“Coming to AIK is like a dream for me. I could not have come to a better club at this stage of my career. I know both Otieno and Meja who play in the team and both have said very good things about the club to me,” he stated. Sichenje said coming to AIK was like a dream for him.

“I could not have come to a better club at this stage of my career. I know both Otieno and Meja who play in the team and both have said very good things about the club to me.”

Shichenje, who was born on September 19, 2003, left Kakamega High School’s Green Commandos SC from Kakamega in 2019 and signed a contract with AFC Leopards.

Marcelo and Meja also had their playing careers developed at Green Commandos.

On March 13, 2021, Shichenje made his debut for Kenya's national team when they hosted South Sudan (1-0) at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.