When Job Ochieng left Ligi Ndogo for Spain in 2019, few could have predicted his ascent to one of the world’s most prestigious leagues.

On Saturday, that journey reached its pinnacle at the Anoeta Stadium.

Ochieng’s debut for Real Sociedad is a win for Kenyan youth academies. His former club, Ligi Ndogo, reportedly received over Sh20 million in development fees last year, a testament to the value of his move.

Now 23, the versatile forward showed why he has been a “permanent fixture” in Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars squad, adapting seamlessly to the pace of the Spanish game.

As Sociedad eyes a top-six finish, Ochieng is no longer just a name on the bench; he is Kenya’s latest ambassador in Europe.