Kenyan national team captain Michael Olunga has officially joined Al Arabi SC, becoming only the second Kenyan to sign for the Qatari Stars League (QSL) side after Dennis Oliech, who featured for the club between 2003 and 2005.
Olunga was unveiled on Saturday, July 6, by the Doha-based club following his departure from Al Duhail SC, where he had an illustrious stint, cementing his place among the top strikers in Qatari football.
During his tenure at Al Duhail, Olunga amassed an incredible 117 goals in 124 appearances across all competitions, helping the club to five major titles:
- Qatari Stars League (2022/23)
- Emir of Qatar Cup (2021/22)
- Qatari Stars Cup (2022/23 and 2024/25)
- Qatari League Cup (2023)
The prolific forward now embarks on a new chapter with Al Arabi SC, where he will link up with football heavyweights including Marco Verratti (formerly of PSG) and Pablo Sarabia (ex-Wolverhampton and PSG), among other notable talents.
Al Arabi are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, where they finished ninth in the league with just 23 points from 22 matches, and exited the Qatari domestic cup in the quarterfinals following a loss to Olunga’s former club, Al Duhail.
On the continental stage, Al Arabi also endured a frustrating run, bowing out in the AFC Champions League qualifying round, further highlighting the need for reinforcement in attack.
Olunga’s arrival is seen as a critical boost to Al Arabi’s ambitions to reclaim domestic and regional glory. With his goal-scoring prowess, leadership, and international experience, the 31-year-old striker is expected to play a pivotal role in revitalizing the club’s frontline.
His move has been met with excitement among Kenyan fans, who continue to track the striker’s stellar career abroad. Olunga is widely regarded as one of Kenya’s most accomplished football exports, having also played in Japan, China, Spain, and Sweden.
As the new QSL season approaches, Al Arabi will be counting on the “Engineer”, as he is nicknamed, to replicate the form that made him a fan favourite and goal machine at Al Duhail.
