Johanna opts out of Gor deal to join Sweden’s Vasalund IF

Mathare United midfielder Eric Johanna has opted out of a deal to join record 15-time Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia in favour of a move to Swedish Division One side Vasalund IF.

The Kenyan international has secured the transfer to the Scandinavian nation’s third tier after Gor had agreed in principle to sign the midfielder in the January window.

Johanna attended trials at Swedish side AIK Fotball in August last year where he featured for their junior side in two matches but failed to land a contract before returning home to Mathare until the end of the season.

Citizen Digital has learnt that Johanna is set to arrive in Sweden on January 23, and is expected to sign a three-year contract.

Johanna netted five times for the Francis Kimanzi coached Mathare last term and managed to cement his place in Stanley Okumbi’s Harambee Stars first team.

Meanwhile, Gor’s defender Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma is expected to jet out of the country on Tuesday for his new home FC Kolkheti in Georgia.

In an interview with Radio Citizen during the weekly show Michezo na Burudani (Sport and Entertainment) on Saturday, Ouma bid farewell to his fans promising to fly high Kenyan flag in the Eastern Europe country.

“I say a big thank you to my fans in Kenya for the amazing support both at club and national team level. I say thank you to the Gor family for giving me the platform to showcase my ability and for my invaluable nurturing.

“I promise I will not let you down. This is a start of another journey and I believe with focus and the right mentality, I will make it,” the International Relations student at the Technical University of Kenya said.

Plans to continue with his studies abroad are in the pipeline.