Ayub Timbe: Harambee Stars winger returns to China after signing with new club

Kenya forward Ayub Timbe has returned to China after signing for second-tier side Nanjing City FC.

This is set to be Timbe’s second stint in China after initially playing for Beijing Renhe in 2017 and 2020.

Nanjing City, which initially was known as Nanjing Fengfan FC before changing its name in January 2021, is Timbe’s eighth club in his senior career.

The star, who was part of the Ligi Ndogo, JMJ Academy, Anderlecht, and Genk youth systems, has also played on loan for Lierse of Belgium, Lava Spring of China, and Reading.

The 30-year-old has also played for Japanese top-tier side Vissel Kobe.

This is the first club for the Harambee Stars winger since parting ways with Buriram United of Thailand, a club he signed for in December 2021. He left the club in December 2022.

It was in China with Beijing Renhe that Timbe had the best goal output in his career; in 49 games, he scored 17 goals.

The return to China could give Timbe another opportunity to restart his career. Although Nanjing participate in League One, it may as well give Timbe enough playtime and help the winger get back into the Harambee Stars set-up.

Nanjing was founded on December 29, 2014, as Nanjing and participated in the Nanjing City League Second Division by the Nanjing Civil Affairs Bureau.

Initially formed as a youth football training club, the club completed their Chinese Football Association (CFA) registration to participate within the Nanjing Football Association Super League and take part within the Chinese football pyramid on November 1, 2017.

A seventh and eighth-place finish in the 2018 league season was enough for them to qualify for the 2019 Chinese Champions League.

They went on to win the division title and promotion to the China League Two.