Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma has joined English Championship side Charlton Athletic on a season-long loan from Czech champions Slavia Prague, with an option for the move to become permanent.
The 22-year-old completed the transfer on Monday, becoming Charlton’s seventh signing ahead of the new Championship campaign.
According to BBC, Charlton confirmed that the deal includes an option to buy Ouma at the end of the season, although the club did not disclose the transfer fee or other financial details.
Ouma expressed his excitement at joining the London-based club, pledging to give his best for the team and its supporters.
“I’m grateful to be here. I’ll give my all… I’m looking forward to seeing the supporters and hearing them cheer every tackle, every duel and every goal,” he told the club’s website.
Charlton manager Nathan Jones said the club had monitored Ouma for an extended period and believes the Kenyan will strengthen his midfield options.
Jones described Ouma as an athletic and technical midfielder with valuable experience, adding that he would bring quality to the squad.
Charlton are preparing for their second consecutive Championship season after securing promotion from League One. They finished 19th in their first season back in England’s second tier, collecting 53 points from 46 matches to avoid relegation.
Ouma began his senior career at Nairobi City Stars, breaking into the first team at the age of 16. He made 56 league appearances and scored seven goals before moving to Swedish club IF Elfsborg in 2022.
During three seasons in Sweden, Ouma made 42 appearances and featured 13 times in the UEFA Europa League.
He joined Slavia Prague in February 2025 on a four-year contract but struggled for regular playing time. He subsequently spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Polish side Lech Poznań, helping the club win the Ekstraklasa title.
Ouma will link up with fellow Kenyan international Collins Sichenje at Charlton, adding a familiar face to his new surroundings as he begins his first spell in English football.
