Timothy Ouma
.jpg) Ouma with Charlton Athletic in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Timothy Noor Ouma | ||
| Date of birth | 10 June 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Nairobi, Kenya | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Charlton Athletic (on loan from Slavia Prague) | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2017 | RYSA | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2022 | Nairobi City Stars | 56 | (7) |
| 2022–2025 | IF Elfsborg | 28 | (1) |
| 2025– | Slavia Prague | 1 | (0) |
| 2025– | → Slavia Prague B | 2 | (0) |
| 2025–2026 | → Lech Poznań (loan) | 21 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Lech Poznań II (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2026– | → Charlton Athletic (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Kenya U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2021– | Kenya | 13 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, 19 September 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 17:10, 26 September 2026 (UTC) | |||
Timothy Noor Babu Ouma (born 10 June 2004) is a Kenyan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for EFL Championship club Charlton Athletic on loan from Czech First League club Slavia Prague and the Kenya national team.
Club career
[edit]Nairobi City Stars
[edit]Babu joined Nairobi City Stars on an initial three-year deal in July 2020 right after completing his studies at Laiser Hill Academy.[1][2] He extended his contract for two more years in September 2021 with an additional two years to June 2023 after his debut season in which he featured in 24 of the 34 games of the 2020–21 Kenyan Premier League.[3]
Ouma was handed his Kenyan Premier League debut on 29 November 2020 by head coach Sanjin Alagic, coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute of a season opener against Nzoia Sugar in Narok.
He scored his debut premier goal in the opening game of 2021–22 Premier League season against Sofapaka in Wundanyi on 26 September 2021. He went on to score in the next two games against Kenya Police and Wazito.[4]
He added four more goals against Kakamega Homeboyz, Bandari, A.F.C. Leopards, and Gor Mahia to end the season with seven goals.
IF Elfsborg
[edit]In mid-July 2022, Ouma signed with Swedish top-tier side IF Elfsborg, and officially joined the club a month later.[5][6]
Ouma earned his debut in the Swedish top-flight, the Allsvenskan, on 31 October 2022 at the Borås Arena during a matchday 29 tie against Helsingborgs IF, after coming on as a substitute in what was his only game in the 2022 season. He went on to feature in another four games of the 2023 season.[7] His first start, and full Allsvenskan appearance, was against champions Malmö FF at the same venue in matchday seven of the 2024 season on 5 May 2024.[8]
On 11 July 2024, Ouma played 63 minutes in his UEFA Europa League debut as IF Elfsborg hosted Cyprian side Pafos FC in a first leg qualifying round tie at the Borås Arena. He scored his maiden European goal in the reverse game on 18 July 2024, becoming only the second Kenyan to score at that stage after Robert Mambo Mumba who achieved the same on 15 September 2005 while playing for Viking FK during the 2005–06 UEFA Cup first round.[9]
He scored his first Allsvenskan goal on 19 September 2024 as 10-men IF Elfsborg rallied to a 2–2 draw with IFK Norrköping in round 23.[10] On 25 September 2024, he became the first Kenyan to score and to provide an assist in the UEFA Europa League group stage, as IF Elfsborg lost 2–3 to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.[11]
Slavia Prague
[edit]On 2 February 2025, Ouma signed a contract with Czech First League club Slavia Prague until 30 June 2029.[12]
Loan to Lech Poznań
[edit]On 18 July 2025, Ouma joined Polish Ekstraklasa club Lech Poznań on a one-year loan deal without an option to buy.[13] In January 2026, Ouma was excluded from the club’s winter training camp in Abu Dhabi due to a breach of internal team discipline, and he was assigned to train with the reserve team pending improvement in his conduct.[14][15] He rejoined the senior team in February.[16] Ouma made 34 appearances for Lech, including 19 starts, as they won the 2025–26 Ekstraklasa title. He returned to Slavia after the season concluded.[17]
Charlton Athletic (loan)
[edit]On 10 August 2026, Ouma joined Charlton Athletic on a season-long loan with an option to make the move permanent.[18]
International career
[edit]In late October 2021, Babu received a Kenya national football team call-up from head coach Engin Firat for two final World Cup qualifying games against Uganda and Rwanda.[19]
Babu made his senior debut for Kenya on 11 November 2021 against the former after coming on as a 72nd minute substitute.[20] He earned his second cap four days later on 15 November against Rwanda after being introduced in the 80th minute.[21][22]
He featured in an international friendly against South Sudan in Moi International Sports Centre on 23 September 2023, and went on to make his first appearance in 2026 World Cup qualifiers after making a cameo appearance against Gabon at the Stade de Franceville on 16 November 2023,[23] and added another game on 20 Nov 2023 against Seychelles at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.[24]
He then dropped down to feature for the Kenya U20 during an invitational tournament in Lilongwe, Malawi, in March 2024. He featured in two games against Zimbabwe and the hosts Malawi.[25]
He scaled back up to the Kenya senior team in June 2024 and earned his first start in a 2026 World Cup qualifiers tie against Burundi in Malawi, and followed it up with another one against African champions Ivory Coast.[26][27]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 19 September 2026[28]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Nairobi City Stars | 2020–21 | Kenyan Premier League | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Kenyan Premier League | 32 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 32 | 7 | |||
| Total | 56 | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 59 | 7 | ||||
| IF Elfsborg | 2022 | Allsvenskan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | Allsvenskan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2024 | Allsvenskan | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 13[c] | 2 | — | 37 | 3 | |||
| Total | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 13 | 2 | — | 42 | 3 | ||||
| Slavia Praha | 2024–25 | Czech First League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26 | Czech First League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2026–27 | Czech First League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Slavia Praha B | 2024–25 | FNL | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Lech Poznań (loan) | 2025–26 | Ekstraklasa | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 12[d] | 0 | — | 34 | 0 | ||
| Lech Poznań II (loan) | 2025–26 | III liga, group II | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Charlton Athletic (loan) | 2026–27 | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 112 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 10 | ||
- ↑ Includes FKF President's Cup, Svenska Cupen, Polish Cup, FA Cup
- ↑ Includes EFL Cup
- ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ↑ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League, six appearances in UEFA Conference League
International
[edit]- As of match played 26 September 2026[29]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 13 | 0 | |
Honours
[edit]IF Elfsborg
- Allsvenskan runner-up: 2023
- Allsvenskan U21 winner: 2022[30]
Slavia Prague
Lech Poznań
References
[edit]- ↑ Goal, August 21, 2020: Ouma: Nairobi City Stars seal signing of teenage midfielder
- ↑ The-Star, August 27, 2020: City Stars continue strengthening as teenager Ouma signs long-term deal
- ↑ Nairobi City Stars, September 2, 2021: Timothy Ouma extends City Stars stay
- ↑ Mozzart Sport, 21 October 2021 Babu sets targets after terrific start
- ↑ The-Star, 24 August 2022 City Stars'prodigy Ouma joins Swedish top-tier side
- ↑ Goal, 24 August 2022 Timothy Ouma: IF Elfsborg confirm signing of Kenya youngster from Nairobi City Stars
- ↑ Mozzart Sport, 15 May 2023 More minutes for Babu in Sweden
- ↑ Pulse Sport, 11 May 2024 Harambee Stars wonderkid Timothy Ouma hungry for more Elfsborg starts
- ↑ Pepeta, 18 July 2024 Timothy Ouma scores as Elfsborg progress in Europa League Qualifiers
- ↑ Pulse Sport, 20 September 2024 Timothy Ouma on target as Elfsborg fight back against IFK Norrkoping in Allsvenskan clash
- ↑ Pulse Sport, 25 September 2024 Stars midfielder nets maiden Europa League goal for Elfsborg despite defeat to AZ Alkmaar
- ↑ "Mladý, rychlý a talentovaný. Slavii posílil keňský záložník Ouma" [Young, fast and talented. Slavia has been strengthened by Kenyan midfielder Ouma]. Aktuálně.cz (in Czech). Economia. Czech News Agency. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- ↑ "Ouma půjde sbírat zkušenosti k polskému mistrovi, do Poznaně zamířil formou hostování" [Ouma will go to gain experience with the Polish champion, he went to Poznan on loan]. EuroFotbal.cz (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ↑ "Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma dropped over indiscipline at Lech Poznań". blog.ke.sportpesa.com. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ↑ Laudański, Radosław (12 January 2026). "Niels Frederiksen wykluczył Timothy'ego Oumę z obozu przygotowawczego. Problemy dyscyplinarne Kenijczyka" [Niels Frederiksen has excluded Timothy Ouma from the training camp. The Kenyan's disciplinary issues]. sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ↑ Dyśko, Maksymilian (3 February 2026). "Timothy Ouma wrócił do treningów z pierwszą drużyną Lecha Poznań. Czy zagra w meczu z Piastem?". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- ↑ Kaliszuk, Maciej (21 June 2026). "Lech żegna się z trzema zawodnikami. Zwłaszcza jednego może żałować". przegladsportowy.onet.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- ↑ "Timothy Ouma joins the Addicks". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 10 August 2026. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ Nairobi City Stars, November 1, 2021: Timothy Ouma receives Kenya National team callup
- ↑ "Uganda v Kenya game report". FIFA. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ Nairobi City Stars, November 16, 2021: Ouma earns second Kenyan cap against Rwanda
- ↑ "Kenya v Rwanda game report". FIFA. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ "Gabon v Kenya game report". FIFA. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ↑ "Seychelles v Kenya game report". FIFA. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ↑ Mozzart Sport, 21 March 2024 Joshua Onyango, Timothy Ouma included in Kenya U20 final squad to Malawi
- ↑ Capital News, 7 June 2024 Miheso, Babu start as Firat names squad to take on Burundi
- ↑ Pulse Sport, 12 June 2024 Firat heaps praise on Timothy Ouma & Rooney Onyango following impressive Ivory Coast displays
- ↑ Timothy Ouma, Global Sports Archive
- ↑ "Timothy Ouma". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ↑ Mozzart Sport, 12 October 2022 Timothy Ouma lifts maiden title in Sweden
- ↑ "Timothy Ouma". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ↑ Dyśko, Maksymilian (16 May 2026). "Lech Poznań mistrzem Polski! Kolejorz odwrócił losy rywalizacji i pokonał Radomiaka Radom [WIDEO]". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 17 May 2026.
External links
[edit]- Timothy Ouma at National-Football-Teams.com
- Timothy Ouma at Global Sports Archive
- Timothy Ouma @UEFA*
- 2004 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Kenyan sportsmen
- Footballers from Nairobi
- Kenyan men's footballers
- Kenya men's youth international footballers
- Kenya men's international footballers
- Men's association football midfielders
- Nairobi City Stars players
- IF Elfsborg players
- SK Slavia Prague players
- Lech Poznań players
- Lech Poznań II players
- Charlton Athletic F.C. players
- Kenyan Premier League players
- Allsvenskan players
- Czech First League players
- Czech National Football League players
- Ekstraklasa players
- III liga players
- Kenyan expatriate men's footballers
- Kenyan expatriate sportspeople in Sweden
- Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden
- Kenyan expatriate sportspeople in the Czech Republic
- Expatriate men's footballers in the Czech Republic
- Kenyan expatriates in Poland
- Expatriate men's footballers in Poland
- English Football League players