Allan Okello’s Vipers SC chapter is officially over after Young Africans SC completed a deal to bring the Uganda Cranes playmaker to Dar es Salaam in one of the biggest transfers in the Kitende club’s history.
The 25-year-old attacking midfielder leaves Vipers as their second most lucrative sale ever, behind only Farouk Miya’s 2016 move to Standard Liège. While Miya commanded around $400,000 at the time, Okello’s switch to Yanga has been concluded for a reported $300,000, a figure that eclipses the $200,000 Vipers previously earned from selling Cesar Manzoki to China.
Footy-Africa has been exclusively told that the deal was structured to reflect both Okello’s importance to Vipers and the contract situation that forced the club’s hand. With just six months left on his deal and no renewal on the table, the Kitende side opted to cash in during the January window rather than risk losing their star man for nothing in the summer.
Allan Okello set for Vipers exit as Young Africans deal nears completion
A source close to NextPro Agency, which manages Okello, confirmed the move and the financial details in exclusive comments to Footy-Africa.
“The transfer is now fully completed and Allan is a Young Africans player, with just an official announcement pending,” the source said. “Yanga and Vipers reached an agreement for a fee of around $300,000, which reflects his value and his impact over the last two seasons.
There was strong interest earlier in the season with much higher numbers discussed, but the timing and the contract situation meant this was the right deal for everyone. Allan wanted a new challenge, Vipers wanted to protect their asset, and Yanga moved decisively to get it done.”
Earlier in the campaign, Yanga had tabled a much bigger bid, understood to be close to $500,000, but Vipers rejected it as they pushed for a serious run in the CAF Champions League, believing Okello’s influence could carry them into the group stages. When that dream faded and his contract ticked down, the dynamics of the deal shifted.
Okello bows out of Kitende with a glittering final season behind him. He was instrumental in Vipers’ domestic double, helping them lift both the Uganda Premier League and the Uganda Cup, while also finishing as the league’s top scorer with 19 goals, a rare feat for an attacking midfielder.
For Young Africans, the signing represents a major statement as they look to tighten their grip on the Tanzanian Premier League and make a deeper impression in the CAF Champions League. Okello has penned a three-year contract and will be expected to add creativity, goals and continental experience to an already formidable Yanga squad.
View this post on Instagram
From Vipers’ perspective, although they fell short of their initial valuation, the $300,000 fee still secures Okello’s place among the club’s most valuable exports and ensures they did not watch one of their crown jewels walk away for free. For the player, it marks the beginning of a new chapter on a bigger regional stage, where he will aim to elevate both his profile and his career in Dar es Salaam.
