Aldrine Kibet: Celta Vigo youngster living the dream

In July this year, Spanish top-tier club Celta Vigo received a wave of followers from the East African plane.

The Os Celestes (Sky Blues), who boast a rich history of developing young players, were prepping up for the 2025/26 season, and as usual, adding some young prospects to the youth team, RC Celta Fortuna. One kid in particular caught the attention of local and international media.

Aldrine Kibet signed for the La Liga side in a deal reported to be worth €6 million (Sh897 million), a move that spawned delight both home and abroad. The 18-year-old, who burst onto the scene captaining St. Anthony’s Boys High School in Kitale to a national trophy in 2023, became among the few Kenyan players to land a move to a high-profile European club. The contract, set to last four years, simply showed a club in Europe’s top five leagues putting trust in the wonderkid’s potential and talent.

Born on 13 June 2006 in Eldama Ravine, Baringo County, Kibet studied at Poror Primary and later Mama Ngina in Nakuru, where he often dubbed himself ‘Messi Liano Kipchirchir’. Even though these schools offered limited support for sports, his parents, Christopher Kibet and Irene Kwalia, never lost hope.

Standing 1.78 m tall, he claimed his first honour in 2015 at the Baringo Under-10 tournament, where he was named Most Valuable Player (MVP). Two years later, he earned the same award at the Wanyama Royal Charity Cup. St Anthony’s Boys Kitale saw his potential and admitted him in 2020, where he thrived not just academically but athletically.

In just a single season, he scored a record-breaking 25 goals, providing 27 assists along the way. He captained his team to its sixth national title, winning the 2023 Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) MVP award in Kakamega.

It was at these school games that scouts really got a good look at the attacking midfielder.

Kibet then secured a scholarship to join Nàstic Sports Academy in Tarragona, Spain, in September 2023, under the Talanta Hela programme. He continued his rise from there, even starring in the Valladolid International Cup, where he scored six goals and gave three assists, including a hat trick against AC Milan youth.

Fast forward to November 2025, the teenager has just been called up by head coach Benni McCarthy to the senior national team, ahead of international friendlies vs Equatorial Guinea and Senegal in Turkey.

Speaking to The Standard during the team's final training session at Nyayo Stadium on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Kibet admitted it was a dream come true, and was elated beyond belief after receiving the call-up this young.

“I feel really excited. It has been a dream for me, and it has finally come true. I feel happy to represent the country, represent the Harambee Stars,” he said.

His goal was to be called up to the national team by 2027, just in time for the co-hosted Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). However, the recognition has come more than a year earlier.

“My goal was to be in the senior national team by 2027, ready for the AFCON, but now it has come even earlier. First thing I want to do is to make my debut and of course, score goals,” he continued, hoping to have an immediate impact on the team.

Having captained Kenya’s Under 20s during the latest Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) tournament, Kibet is aware of the interest and expectation around him, considering he is among the few Kenyan players who actually interact with top La Liga talents on a daily basis.

Discipline and prayer

He knows Kenyans now follow the main Celta Vigo team, and often sees us clamouring for his inclusion in the match-day squads, even though he hasn’t progressed to the senior side yet.

“I feel good because I know the whole country is supporting me. My work is making you proud, so it motivates me each day. I have not yet made it to the Celta first team yet, but whenever I look at the team’s posts, I always see Kenyans asking, ‘Where is Kibet?’. This really motivates me because I know one time they will not be asking for my whereabouts, because I will be there,” he explained.

He aspires to be a top player someday and stressed ‘discipline’ and ‘prayer’ as two virtues he holds dear to help him become a better footballer.

“My advice to youth is that after you set your dreams as a footballer, all you need is discipline and prayers. Train every day and stay away from drugs and alcohol. The moment you get into these vices, you get distractions, and you won’t achieve your goals. Dream about it. I had imagined I would get here one day, but I just didn’t know how I would. This never prevented me from believing and pushing, working hard, knowing I would get there,” he concluded.

Kenya bagged two high-level international friendlies this month. Fans will be hoping Kibet makes his debut either against the National Thunder at the Emir Complex in Antalya on Friday, November 14, or against the Lions of Teranga at the Mardan Stadium on November 18, 2025.

Both games will kick off at 1800 hours.