Meet Deon Woodman: The England-Based Defender Now Joining Harambee Stars

For most footballers, the end of a gruelling season is a time to breathe, reset, and reflect. For 23 year old defender Deonysus Sangai Woodman, however, the final weeks of the campaign delivered something far bigger: the moment he had unknowingly been waiting for all his life.

Fresh off a remarkable season with Wealdstone FC, the towering centre back received his maiden call up to the Kenya national football team ahead of the June international friendlies against Palestine and Kyrgyzstan.

For Woodman, it was more than just a football milestone.

“It’s my proudest moment to be called up for my home country,” he says. “Words won’t do justice to how I feel.”

Standing at 6’5”, the England born defender instantly becomes the tallest defender in the current Harambee Stars setup, but beyond the physical presence lies a deeply personal story, one rooted thousands of kilometres away from English football grounds, in Kehancha in Kuria East, Migori County.

A season that changed everything

Woodman’s rise has not happened overnight.

Having come through the academies of Crystal Palace F.C. and Queens Park Rangers F.C., he steadily worked his way through the English football pyramid, sharpening his game during loan spells at St Albans City F.C. and Southend United F.C..

But the 2024/25 campaign at Wealdstone became the true breakthrough.

Woodman clocked over 3,300 minutes across all competitions, contributing two goals and two assists while anchoring the club’s defence through a memorable run to the Isuzu FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium. His consistency and leadership earned him the Wealdstone Supporters’ Player of the Season award, recognition from fans who watched him evolve into one of the club’s most reliable performers.

Then came the phone call.

“My agent told me, leading up to the final, that Kenya had called,” Woodman recalls. “Nick (Kimanthi) had been in contact with him. For me it was weird because obviously I had a final coming up, so I didn’t really know what to think.

“But eventually getting called up was just like… wow. It’s all surreal for me right now.”

The timing felt almost cinematic, heartbreak at Wembley followed almost immediately by the joy of international recognition.

The Kenyan connection

Although born and raised in England, Kenya has never been a distant concept for Woodman.

His mother hails from Kehancha in Migori County, and he says regular visits back home helped shape his understanding of identity, family, and belonging.

“My mom grew up in a village called Kehancha,” he explains. “It’s a long drive from Nairobi. I’ve been to Kenya quite a few times. My mom’s wedding was also done in Kenya about two years ago.”

Those visits left a lasting impression.

“Every time I go, I always feel the love, whether it’s from family or even strangers who don’t know me,” he says with a laugh. “There’s even a little running joke where they call me ‘Mzungu’ because I’m probably the lightest shade they’ve seen in the village.”

Yet beneath the humour lies genuine emotional connection.

“Honestly, every visit gives me a different perspective on life. That’s why when the call up happened, I was overwhelmed. Words honestly can’t explain it.”

Patience rewarded

Unlike many diaspora players who actively push for international opportunities early in their careers, Woodman took a quieter route.

He admits Kenyan football is still relatively new territory for him.

“Everything is still kind of fresh to me when it comes to Kenyan football,” he says. “I would always keep tabs if Kenya got to AFCON or the World Cup qualifiers, just to see how they were doing.”

But while interest existed, he never forced the conversation.

“My main focus was always on what I was doing personally. I always felt that if a call up was meant to happen, then it would happen. I stayed patient, kept working, and eventually the opportunity came.”

That patience has now led him into a new chapter under Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy, one he is eager to embrace.

“I’m really excited to work with Benni McCarthy,” Woodman says. “It’s a different challenge, and one that I’m ready for. Hopefully together we can help push this team in the right direction.”

Sharing the dream with Micah Obiero

One of the most unique aspects of Woodman’s first call up is that he will experience it alongside his Wealdstone teammate Micah Obiero, who also earned a place in the squad.

After enduring the emotional highs and lows of a long English season together, the pair now step into international football side by side.

“I’m really blessed to have shared a moment like this with Micah,” Woodman says. “Together we’ve had a long season. To lose at Wembley in the last game was heartbreaking, but to share our first international call up together is honestly brilliant.”

He is equally proud of the journey his teammate has taken.

“I’m so pleased and proud of the season he’s had. He’s been terrific all season, and to see the hard work paying off and getting recognition is surreal for me.”

Interestingly, despite Micah’s younger brother Zech Obiero already featuring and scoring for Kenya, Woodman chose not to ask too much about what to expect.

“I’d rather experience it myself firsthand,” he says. “Someone can tell you it’s the best feeling in the world, but I want to feel that moment myself.”

“I’m proud of the place I call home”

For Kenyan fans, Woodman’s arrival represents more than just another overseas recruit.

At 23, he brings youth, size, composure, and experience from the demanding environment of English football. But perhaps more importantly, he arrives with visible pride in representing Kenya.

“My message to all the Kenyan fans is that it’s truly an honour,” he says. “I’m so proud to share this moment with all of you as well.

“I’m so happy to be home, and I’m proud of the place I call home.

“I’m really excited for the journey we’re about to embark on together, and I just want to thank everyone for the love and support they’ve shown me so far.”

For Deon Woodman, the journey is only just beginning.