Sichenje Seals Championship Switch as Charlton Come Calling

Kenyan international defender Collins Sichenje has spoken of his excitement after completing a move to Charlton Athletic, sealing a three-and-a-half year contract with the English Championship outfit.

The 22-year-old joins the Addicks from Serbian SuperLiga side FK Vojvodina, with the London club confirming his arrival earlier this week. For Sichenje, the transfer represents both validation of his steady rise and a fresh challenge in one of Europe’s most demanding leagues.

“It feels amazing to be here. It is a good club with good projects and I’m ready to start working with them,” Sichenje said.
“It’s a big step for my career. It’s a good opportunity to keep working, developing and helping the team. I just need to stay humble and keep working, that’s the goal.”

Sichenje’s journey has been anything but straightforward. He began his career with Kakamega High School’s famed Green Commandos before earning a move to AFC Leopards in September 2019, where his performances quickly marked him out as one of the country’s brightest defensive prospects.

A move to Greece with PAOK followed, before a brief return to Leopards. In 2022, he signed for Swedish giants AIK, later spending the 2023/24 season on loan at Finnish side KuPS Kuopio. Regular football in Finland allowed him to rediscover his rhythm and confidence, performances that reopened doors at a higher level.

Despite that progress, opportunities at AIK were limited, leading to another loan spell at FK Vojvodina. The Serbian club were impressed enough to make the move permanent in September 2024, and Sichenje has been a regular feature for them until his switch to England.

The defender has already been encouraged by the reception he has received at Charlton, particularly the faith shown by head coach Nathan Jones.

“The manager has a lot of belief in me. He has told me what I need to improve in my game, and I’ve started learning and adapting quickly. The first impression is good and I’m happy to be here,” he said.

Charlton’s managing director James Rodwell confirmed that Sichenje had been on the club’s radar for some time.

“He’s a player we’ve been tracking for a long time and was originally budgeted to join us in the summer as part of our multi-window strategy. We’re pleased the opportunity came to bring him in earlier,” Rodwell noted.

Sichenje becomes Charlton’s seventh signing of the winter transfer window as the club looks to climb away from danger. The Addicks currently sit 18th on 35 points after 29 matches, and will be hoping the composure and athleticism of the eight-capped Harambee Stars defender can help steady their campaign.

For Kenyan football, it is another encouraging sign, with Sichenje now set to test himself on one of English football’s most competitive stages.