Massively rated Kenyan youngster Aldrine Kibet is on the verge of completing a high-profile move to Spanish Segunda División outfit Albacete, sources close to The Nerve Africa have exclusively revealed.
The budding forward currently plays for Nastic Soccer Academy in Tarragona, Spain, where he has experienced a meteoric rise since joining them last year from Kenya’s school football powerhouse, St. Anthony Boys School, Kitale.
After scouting the teenager for months at Nastic, Albacete opened talks, and an agreement was reached on Wednesday for the transfer. Both parties have agreed that Kibet will remain with his current academy until January.
At Albacete, the 18-year-old will sign a long-term, five-year contract. Upon joining in January, he will play with Albacete’s youth team until the end of the season, before integrating with the senior team in June 2025.
In an interview with The Nerve Africa, a source close to Kibet’s family in Kenya revealed that Albacete had been in contact since July, and it wasn’t a difficult decision to make once the club made their formal offer. The source also confirmed that the documents will be signed upon his return from Kenya, where he is currently with the U-20 team for the Africa Cup Zonal qualifiers.
“It was unbelievable when Albacete first made contact. While we all believe Aldrine (Kibet) is a special talent, we didn’t expect his rise to be this quick. Talks are now finalized, and he will sign the contract when he returns from Kenya. He will remain at Nastic Academy until January, then join Albacete’s youth team until June next year.”
It is believed that Kibet caught the attention of top European scouts during the Valladolid International Cup in Madrid last month, where he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP). Scoring six goals and providing three assists prompted Albacete to intensify their pursuit of the prized talent.
Kibet, regarded as one of the finest emerging Kenyan talents, has represented his country at various youth levels, including the U-15, U-17, U-18, U-20, and U-23 teams. However, he has yet to receive a call-up to the senior national team, the Harambee Stars.