Victor Wanyama

Wanyama attended Kamukunji High School, known for its successful football team. After High School, he played for JMJ Academy for three years and joined Kenyan Premier League clubs Nairobi City Stars and AFC Leopards.[http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/InsidePage.php?id=2000000305&cid=38&story=Mugabe%20wants%20to%20cement%20position%20in%20Belgium%20club Mugabe wants to cement position in Belgium club] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304132405/http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/InsidePage.php?id=2000000305&cid=38&story=Mugabe%20wants%20to%20cement%20position%20in%20Belgium%20club |date=4 March 2016 }} Standard Digital, 5 January 2010 In 2007, he joined Allsvenskan club Helsingborg, but returned to Kenya in 2008 after his brother, McDonald Mariga, moved to Serie A side Parma.

During his childhood, he was a fan of Celtic F.C., and would watch the club's matches from a local club modelled on Celtic called [https://facebook.com/groups/240070772832231/ Kibera Celtic].{{Citation |title=Victor Wanyama Hilarious Interview on Johnston, UCL, Spaghetti & Haggis {{!}} Celtic View Podcast Ep 35 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKCMywDezHE |access-date=13 April 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Supporters – Jamie Doran and Kibera Celtic (Kenya) – The Celtic Wiki |url=https://www.thecelticwiki.com/legends-and-supporters/supporters-jamie-doran-and-kibera-celtic-kenya/ |access-date=13 April 2023 |language=en-CA}}

After a successful trial, Wanyama signed for Beerschot AC on a four-year contract in summer 2008. He made his debut in a League match at the end of the 2008–09 season. In September 2009, he was fined €100 and given a three-match suspension for a violent tackle on Matías Suárez of Anderlecht.[http://www.footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=44838 Wanyama suspendu trois matchs (Wanyama suspended three games)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007030208/http://www.footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=44838 |date=7 October 2012 }} Footgoal, 29 September 2009 {{in lang|fr}}

In the summer of 2010 Scottish Premier League club Celtic attempted to sign Wanyama but Beerschot did not allow him to leave. Russian club CSKA Moscow also attempted to sign him, but they failed as well.[http://www.footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=57331 Wanyama va rester au Germinal Beerschot (Wanyama stays with Germinal Beerschot)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819044505/http://www.footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=57331 |date=19 August 2010 }} Footgoal, 16 April 2010 {{in lang|fr}}

Wanyama scored his first goal for Beerschot on 11 December 2010, a 77th-minute equaliser against Westerlo. In April 2011, he received another three match suspension after video evidence showed he had elbowed Brecht Dejaeghere of K.V. Kortrijk.[http://www.footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=67175 Wanyama poursuivi (Wanyama continued)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007030406/http://www.footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=67175 |date=7 October 2012 }} Footgoal, 18 April 2011 {{in lang|fr}}

File:Victor Wanyama 2012.jpg in 2012]]

On 9 July 2011, Wanyama finally completed a £900,000 move to Celtic, after the Scottish club had failed to sign him the previous year.{{cite news |url = http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=1253 |title = Wanyama is a Celt |publisher = Celtic FC |date = 9 July 2011 |access-date = 9 July 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110817004244/http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=1253 |archive-date = 17 August 2011 |df = dmy-all}}{{cite news |title=Victor Wanyama wins work permit appeal to sign for Celtic |url=http://www.scotzine.com/2011/07/victor-wanyama-wins-work-permit-appeal-to-sign-for-celtic/ |publisher=Scotzine.com |date=8 July 2011 |access-date=24 January 2013 |archive-date=22 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822012344/http://www.scotzine.com/2011/07/victor-wanyama-wins-work-permit-appeal-to-sign-for-celtic/ |url-status=dead }} He signed a four-year contract and in doing so became the first ever Kenyan to play in the SPL. Wanyama chose 67 as his squad number to honour the Lisbon Lions, Celtic's 1967 European Cup-winning team.{{cite news | url = http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/stipe-pletikosa-and-victor-wanyama-set-to-make-celtic-bow-1.1113107 | title = Stipe Pletikosa and Victor Wanyama set to make Celtic bow | publisher = Herald & Times Group | work = Evening Times | date = 20 July 2011 | last = Cully | first = Ronnie | access-date = 23 September 2011 | archive-date = 19 September 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110919193053/http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/stipe-pletikosa-and-victor-wanyama-set-to-make-celtic-bow-1.1113107 | url-status = dead }}{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14082372 | title = Germinal's Victor Wanyama completes switch to Celtic | publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 9 July 2011 | access-date = 25 June 2012}}

Wanyama made his Celtic league debut in a 1–0 loss to St Johnstone on 21 August 2011. He played in central defence rather than his favoured central midfield role.{{cite news | url = http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/celtic/when-they-scored-the-fans-wanted-more-and-we-couldn-t-handle-it-1.1119214 | title = 'When they scored the fans wanted more and we couldn't handle it' | publisher = Herald & Times Group | work = Herald Scotland | date = 23 August 2011 | access-date = 30 August 2011}} He came on as a late substitute in a 4–0 win over Motherwell,{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14773073.stm | title = Celtic 4–0 Motherwell | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 10 September 2011 | access-date = 23 September 2011}} and played for the whole second half in a 2–0 League Cup win over Ross County.{{cite news | url = http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21092011/63/ross-county-v-celtic-21-september.html | title = Ross County v Celtic – 21 September | publisher = Yahoo! Sport | work = Eurosport | date = 21 September 2011

| access-date = 23 September 2011}} On 29 September 2011, he started in Celtic's 1–1 draw with Italian team Udinese in the Europa League. This was his first European match for the club.{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15014638.stm | title = Celtic 1–1 Udinese | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 29 September 2011

| access-date = 29 September 2011}} On 10 December 2011, Wanyama scored his first goal for Celtic in a 1–0 win over Hearts at Celtic Park, a tremendous 25-yard strike which hit the top corner.{{cite news

| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16015615.stm | title = Celtic 1–0 Hearts | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 10 December 2011 | access-date = 12 December 2011}} His performances during December earned him the Scottish Premier League young player of the month award.{{cite news | url = http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/293525-celtics-victor-wanyama-named-spl-young-player-of-the-month/ | title = Celtic's Victor Wanyama named SPL Young Player of the Month | publisher = STV Sport | date = 13 January 2012 | access-date = 8 February 2012 | archive-date = 18 January 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120118051136/http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/293525-celtics-victor-wanyama-named-spl-young-player-of-the-month/ | url-status = dead }} He scored his second Celtic goal on 2 January 2012 in a 3–0 win against Dunfermline at East End Park.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16331432.stm|title=Dunfermline 0–3 Celtic|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 January 2011|access-date=3 January 2011}} Wanyama scored in Celtic's 2–1 win against Dundee United at Celtic Park{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jan/14/hearts-hibs-celtic-aberdeen-spl|title=Celtic's Gary Hooper and Victor Wanyama strike to sink Dundee United|last=Briggs|first=Nial|work=The Guardian|date=14 January 2012}} and in the 4–0 victory against Hearts at Tynecastle.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/celtic/9069307/Hearts-0-Celtic-4-match-report.html|title=Hearts 0 Celtic 4: match report|last=Forsyth|first=Roddy|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=8 February 2012}}

On 20 October 2012, Wanyama scored twice against St Mirren at St Mirren Park, the second of which was a half volley from 25 yards out.{{cite news |title=Clinical Celtic warmed up for the Nou Camp with what turned out to be little more than a training exercise as they outclassed a feeble St Mirren |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19939572 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=20 October 2012 |access-date=24 January 2013 }} On 25 October, Wanyama's agent released a statement saying that he had turned down an improved contract offer from Celtic, stating that his wage demands could not be met by the club amid speculation of interest from clubs in England.{{cite news |title=Scottish Football – Wanyama rejects Celtic deal |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/scottish-football-wanyama-rejects-celtic-deal-185103875.html |work=Eurosport |publisher=Yahoo! |date=25 October 2012 |access-date=26 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128003423/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/scottish-football-wanyama-rejects-celtic-deal-185103875.html |archive-date=28 January 2013}} On 7 November, Wanyama opened the scoring with a powerful header as Celtic shocked Barcelona in the Champions League group stage, by beating them 2–1 at Celtic Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0253-0d7edab8668d-4e81adefa19f-1000--debutant-watt-lights-up-memorable-celtic-victory/ |title=Debutant Watt lights up memorable Celtic victory |work=UEFA |date=25 October 2012 |access-date=20 September 2014 }}

Wanyama received a nomination for the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year for 2012–13,{{cite news | url=https://www.standard.co.uk/pasportsfeeds/scotland-pfa-awards-shortlist-announced-8586563.html | title=Scotland PFA awards shortlist announced | newspaper=Evening Standard | date=25 April 2013 | access-date=13 May 2019}} but the winner was announced as Leigh Griffiths{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22424675 |title=Motherwell: Michael Higdon named player of the year |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 May 2013 |access-date=14 May 2019}}

File:Victor Wanyama 2014.jpg in 2014]]

After much speculation and a previous breakdown in talks, on 11 July 2013, Wanyama signed for Premier League side Southampton for a fee claimed to be £12.5 million,{{cite news | title= Victor Wanyama: Southampton sign Celtic midfielder for £12.5m | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22969633| publisher=BBC Sport| date=11 July 2013 | access-date= 11 July 2013}} making him the first Kenyan to ever play in the Premier League.{{cite web | title=Wanyama makes Saints switch | url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/wanyama-makes-saints-switch-909448.aspx | publisher=Southampton FC | date= 11 July 2013| access-date= 11 July 2013}}

Wanyama said: {{centred pull quote|Southampton is a good club and it has good players, so I just want to train hard and work hard to be a part of the starting XI. We'll see where that will take me. It feels great and I am happy to be here. There were other options, but Southampton is a club with ambitions so I chose to come here. I'm very grateful to be here and I'm looking forward to playing in the Premier League.}}

He made his debut on 17 August 2013, in a 1–0 away win against West Bromwich Albion.{{cite news|title=West Brom 0–1 Southampton |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23644676 |publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=19 August 2013|date=17 August 2013}} Wanyama made 24 appearances in his first season, but injuries hindered his efforts to make much of an impact in the team.{{cite news|title=Victor Wanyama desperate for Saints to end with record breaking tally|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/11160909.Victor_Wanyama_desperate_for_Saints_to_end_with_record_breaking_tally/|newspaper=Daily Echo|access-date=2 November 2014|date=21 April 2014}}

Under new manager Ronald Koeman, Wanyama came into his own in the 2014–15 season.{{cite web|title=Wanyama considered switch|url=http://www.football411.com/story/0,22162,14287_16580,00.html|publisher=Football 411|access-date=2 November 2014|format=24 October 2014}} He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 league victory over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on 20 September 2014, after replacing James Ward-Prowse in the 69th minute.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/29187272 |title=Swansea 0–1 Southampton|publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 September 2014 |access-date=20 September 2014 }} His next goal came in an 8–0 trouncing of Sunderland on 19 October 2014.{{cite news |last1=Reddy |first1=Luke |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29580147 |title=Southampton 8–0 Sunderland |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 October 2014 |access-date=18 October 2014}} Wanyama would score his third goal for the Saints in spectacular fashion, a 40-yard shot after Eldin Jakupović's poor clearance fell straight to him, in what proved to be the only goal in a win over Hull City.{{cite news |last1=Keegan |first1=Mike |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/29768014 |title=Hull City 0–1 Southampton |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 November 2014 |access-date=1 November 2014}} His performances saw him awarded the league's African Player of the Month for September, with him stating "It is wonderful being recognised as someone who has done well for his club."

File:Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, December 2016 (08).JPG in 2016]]

On 23 June 2016, Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur announced that they had reached an agreement with Southampton for the transfer of Wanyama,{{cite web|title=Wanyama transfer completed |url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/victor-wanyama-transfer-completed-230616/ |publisher=tottenhamhotspur.com |date=23 June 2016 |access-date=23 June 2016}} signing a five-year contract for a fee of £11 million.{{cite news |title=Victor Wanyama: Tottenham sign Southampton midfielder on five-year deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36612577 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 June 2016 |access-date=23 June 2016}} Wanyama had previously worked with Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino who brought him to Southampton in July 2013.{{cite news|title=Tottenham sign Victor Wanyama from Southampton |newspaper=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/23/tottenham-sign-victor-wanyama-from-southampton/ |publisher=telegraph.co.uk |date=23 June 2016 |access-date=23 June 2016|last1=Sport |first1=Telegraph }} Wanyama scored his first goal for the club on his home debut against Crystal Palace, in the 82nd minute of a 1–0 league win for Spurs.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/premier-league/tottenham-v-crystal-palace-victor-wanyama-seals-spurs-first-premier-league-win-for-20162017/news-story/107b8ea4be58f68e4437dd34b9a85b6d |title=Tottenham v Crystal Palace: Victor Wanyama seals Spurs' first Premier League win for 2016–2017 |date=21 August 2016 |work=Fox Sports Australia |access-date=21 August 2016}} The goal made him the 138th different player to score for the club, extending its record for the most variety of goalscorers for a single club in the Premier League.{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/78854 |title=Wanyama extends Spurs benchmark |date=23 August 2016 |publisher=The Premier League |access-date=28 August 2016}}

Early in the 2017–18 season, Wanyama injured his knee in the match against Chelsea and was sidelined for over four months.{{cite news |url=http://www.goal.com/en-ke/news/victor-wanyama-hands-tottenham-hotspur-injury-boost/16wcxeabv2wl71j2bnaedvdlo3 |title= Victor Wanyama hands Tottenham Hotspur injury boost |first=Taiye |last= Taiwo |date=7 December 2017 |work= Goal.com|access-date=19 December 2017 }} He returned to training in mid-December.{{cite news|last1=Prosser|first1=Jack|title=Tottenham midfielder Victor Wanyama returns to first team training|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham-midfielder-victor-wanyama-returns-to-first-team-training-a3716976.html|access-date=19 December 2017|work=Evening Standard|date=11 December 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Thomas|first1=Lyall|title=Victor Wanyama returns to Tottenham training as he steps up recovery from knee injury|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/11166861/victor-wanyama-returns-to-tottenham-training-as-he-steps-up-recovery-from-knee-injury|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=19 December 2017|date=11 December 2017}} On 2 January 2018, he made his first appearance after his injury, as a substitute in the away match against Swansea City.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/01/02/swansea-city-0-2-tottenham-hotspur-spurs-grind-out-win-dreadful-weather-conditions |title=Tottenham Grinds Out Win Over Swansea in Rainy Conditions |date=2 January 2018 |magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=2 January 2018 }} His equaliser in Tottenham's 2–2 draw with Liverpool on 4 February 2018 was voted the Premier League Goal of the Month.{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/637611|title=Wanyama wins February's Carling Goal of the Month |date=9 March 2018 |work=premierleague.com |access-date=11 April 2020 }}

Wanyama picked up a knee injury in a pre-season game of the 2018–19 season against Barcelona.{{cite web |url= https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2018/7/26/17619850/tottenham-hotspur-news-victor-wanyama-usa-tour-injury-premier-league |title=Victor Wanyama picks up knee injury on preseason |date=26 July 2018 }} He made his first start of the season two months later in the EFL Cup game against Watford that Spurs won on penalties.{{cite news|url=https://www.futaa.com/article/164907/full-hour-for-wanyama-as-spurs-edge-out-watford|title=Full hour for Wanyama as Spurs edge out Watford|first=Jeff|last=Kinyanjui|date=27 September 2018|work=Futaa|access-date=27 September 2018|archive-date=28 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928003407/https://www.futaa.com/article/164907/full-hour-for-wanyama-as-spurs-edge-out-watford|url-status=dead}} At the end of August 2019 Tottenham had agreed to sell Wanyama to Club Brugge for £13 million, however Wanyama had "concerns over the move" and the deal broke down.{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham/victor-wanyama-not-sold-on-13m-club-brugge-move-after-tottenham-strike-deal-a4224921.html |title=Victor Wanyama not sold on £13m Club Brugge move after Tottenham strike deal |work=Evening Standard |first=Dan |last=Kilpatrick |date=30 August 2019 |access-date=30 August 2019}}

On 3 March 2020, Tottenham announced that it had agreed to transfer Wanyama to Major League Soccer club Montreal Impact (now CF Montréal), where he would become a Designated Player.{{cite web |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2020/march/wanyama-to-montreal-impact-agreed/ |title=Wanyama to Montreal Impact agreed |work=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |date=3 March 2020 |access-date=3 March 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.impactmontreal.com/en/post/2020/03/03/midifielder-victor-wanyama-joins-impact-designated-player |title=Midfielder Victor Wanyama joins the Impact as Designated Player|work=Impact Montreal |date=3 March 2020 |access-date=3 March 2020}}

On 11 March 2020, Wanyama made his competitive debut for Montreal at Stade Olympique in the first leg of a quarterfinal in the CONCACAF Champions League, where he was named in manager Thierry Henry's starting side. Wanyama provided an assist to Saphir Taïder – with whom Wanyama was briefly teammates at Southampton in 2014 – in a 1–2 defeat by Honduran champions C.D. Olimpia.{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/wanyama-makes-montreal-impact-debut-in-concacaf-champions-league-/igm5slwx3u0v1vjighm2n3hd8|title=Wanyama makes Montreal Impact debut in Concacaf Champions League tie against Olimpia|work=Goal |date=10 March 2020 |access-date=11 March 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en-ae/news/wanyama-registers-assist-on-montreal-impact-debut-henry/16fr93b6qp7i1ivj2dwl2qxq0|title=Wanyama registers assist on Montreal Impact debut, Henry blasts 'schoolboy errors'|work=Goal |date=10 March 2020 |access-date=11 March 2020}}

On 21 November 2021, the midfielder captained his side to a 1–0 victory over Toronto FC in the 2021 Canadian Championship Final.{{Cite web |date=21 November 2021 |title=Quioto nets winner as CF Montreal defeats Toronto FC to claim Canadian Championship |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/toronto-fc-cf-montreal-canadian-championship-soccer-final-2021-1.6257536 |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=CBC Sports}}

In October 2022, Wanyama initially announced that he would not renew his contract with CF Montréal at the end of the season.{{Cite web |date=4 October 2022 |title=CF Montréal midfielder Victor Wanyama won't return for 2023 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/cf-montreal-midfielder-victor-wanyama-won-t-return-for-2023 |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=MLSSoccer.com |language=en-US}} However, in January 2023, he was officially re-signed by the Canadian club, signing a new two-year contract. Wanyama would leave the club on 1 January 2025 as his extension expired.{{Cite web |date=6 January 2023 |title=Victor Wanyama remains with CF Montréal for two more seasons |url=https://en.cfmontreal.com/news/victor-wanyama-remains-with-cf-montreal-for-two-more-seasons |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=CF Montréal |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=6 January 2023 |title=Victor Wanyama returns to CF Montréal on DP deal |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/victor-wanyama-returns-to-cf-montreal-on-dp-deal |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=MLSSoccer.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Laradi |first=Elias |date=6 January 2023 |title=CF Montreal Re-Signs Victor Wanyama To Two Year Deal |url=https://northerntribune.ca/cf-montreal-re-signs-victor-wanyama-to-two-year-deal/ |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=Northern Tribune |language=en-US}}

On 26 March 2025, Wanyama joined Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic on a short-term deal until the end of the season, reuniting with his former Celtic manager and new Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon.{{Cite web |last=Bak |first=Logan |date=2025-03-26 |title=Victor Wanyama Signs For The Pars |url=https://dafc.co.uk/victor-wanyama-signs-for-the-pars/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Dunfermline Athletic Football Club}}{{Cite web |date=2025-03-26 |title=Victor Wanyama signs for Dunfermline & reunites with manager Neil Lennon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cp8l6k88xg3o |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=BBC Sport}} Three days later, he made his debut in a 3-0 loss against Ayr United where he was sent off in the 84th minute for a handball offence.https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/scottish-football-fairytale-turns-sour-as-victor-wanyama-sent-off-on-debut-and-neil-lennon-loses-out-5057895

Wanyama made his debut for the Kenyan senior national team in May 2007, aged just 15, in a friendly against Nigeria. He went on play in all six of Kenya's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Having first become the captain of the Harambee Stars in 2013,{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} he represented Kenya at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.{{Cite web|url=https://footballkenya.org/harambee-stars-sebastien-migne-final-afcon-squad/|title=#Tunaweza: Stars coach Sébastien Migné names final AFCON Squad|date=11 June 2019}}

In September 2021, after being repeatedly overlooked for selection during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Wanyama announced his retirement from international football, marking the end of his 14-year duty.{{Cite news |date=27 September 2021 |title=Wanyama announces Kenya retirement |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/africa/58711031 |access-date=28 September 2021}} However, following the FKF's re-admission in global competitions by FIFA and a personal meeting with Kenya's Sports Minister at the time, Ababu Namwamba, in December 2022 the midfielder officially agreed to restore his eligibility for the senior national team, together with Michael Olunga.{{Cite news |date=8 December 2022 |title=Kenya's Wanyama reverses international retirement |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/63908386 |access-date=7 January 2023}}

Wanyama comes from a sporting family. His brother McDonald Mariga was also a professional footballer,[http://www.futaa.com/football/article/mariga-confirmed-at-parma Mariga confirmed at Parma] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304195947/http://www.futaa.com/football/article/mariga-confirmed-at-parma|date=4 March 2012}} Futaa.com, 31 January 2012[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17705309 Kenya's McDonald Mariga faces lengthy spell out] BBC Sport, 13 April 2012 while his other brothers Thomas and Sylvester are also footballers in the Kenyan Premier League. His father, Noah Wanyama, was a footballer for A.F.C. Leopards in the 1980s,[http://www.futaa.com/football/article/Noah-Wanyama-hits-the-campaign-trail Noah Wanyama hits the campaign trail] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704232701/http://www.futaa.com/football/article/noah-wanyama-hits-the-campaign-trail|date=4 July 2013}} Futaa.com, 18 October 2011 and his sister Mercy is a professional basketball player in Spain.

Wanyama is managed by ExtraTime,[http://www.extratime.es/clients/14/victor-wanyama Victor Wanyama] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701110123/http://www.extratime.es/clients/14/victor-wanyama|date=1 July 2012}} ExtraTime and has a boot sponsorship deal with Adidas.

In 2015, Wanyama participated in the production of a short film about football in Kenya called Mdudu Boy, written and directed by actress Ella Smith.{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Dawn |date=2 July 2015 |title=Film being made by Westcountry actor has celebrity support |publisher=Western Morning News |url=http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Film-Westcountry-actor-celebrity-support/story-26821040-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803092543/http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Film-Westcountry-actor-celebrity-support/story-26821040-detail/story.html |archive-date=3 August 2015 }}

In December 2022, Wanyama was key in urging then CF Montréal teammate and friend Alistair Johnston to move to his former club Celtic FC. Johnston has credited Wanyama with the move, jokingly referring to him as "agent Victor".

{{updated|match played 12 April 2025}}{{cite web | url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/victor-wanyama/53437/ | title=V. Wanyama | website=Soccerway | access-date=19 January 2012}}{{cite web | url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=58053 | title=Victor Wanyama Stats | publisher=Racing Post|work=Soccerbase | access-date=22 October 2016}}

:As of match played 7 June 2019. Kenya score listed first, score column indicates score after each Wanyama goal.{{Soccerway|victor-wanyama/53437}}

Celtic{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/victor-wanyama/53437/ |title=Profile |website=Soccerway |access-date=30 August 2019}}

• Scottish Premier League: 2011–12, 2012–13
• Scottish Cup: 2012–13

Tottenham Hotspur

• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2018–19{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48368443 |title=Tottenham Hotspur 0–2 Liverpool |first=Phil |last=McNulty |work=BBC Sport |date=1 June 2019 |access-date=1 June 2019}}

CF Montréal

• Canadian Championship: 2021; runner-up: 2023

Individual

• PFA Scotland Team of the Year (SPL): 2012–13
• SPL Young Player of the Year: 2012–13
• SPL Young Player of the Month: December 2011

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Soccerbase}}
• {{NFT player}}
• [http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/first-team-profiles/victor-wanyama/ Profile on Tottenham Hotspur website]
• {{ESPN FC}}

{{Dunfermline Athletic F.C. squad}}{{Kenya squad 2019 Africa Cup of Nations}}

{{2012–13 PFA Scotland SPL Team of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wanyama, Victor}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Kenyan Luhya people

Category:Footballers from Nairobi

Category:Kenyan men's footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Scottish Premier League players

Category:Belgian Pro League players

Category:Premier League players

Category:Major League Soccer players

Category:Scottish Professional Football League players

Category:Nairobi City Stars players

Category:A.F.C. Leopards players

Category:Helsingborgs IF players

Category:Beerschot A.C. players

Category:Celtic F.C. players

Category:Southampton F.C. players

Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players

Category:CF Montréal players

Category:Dunfermline Athletic F.C. players

Category:Designated Players (MLS)

Category:Kenya men's international footballers

Category:2019 Africa Cup of Nations players

Category:Kenyan expatriate men's footballers

Category:Kenyan expatriate sportspeople in Belgium

Category:Kenyan expatriate sportspeople in Sweden

Category:Kenyan expatriate sportspeople in Scotland

Category:Kenyan expatriate sportspeople in England

Category:Kenyan expatriate sportspeople in Canada

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England

Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada

Category:21st-century Kenyan sportsmen