Kenyan defender George Chilaka Gitau has been loaned out by English Championship side Middlesbrough to Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers FC.Gitau moved to Scotland on Thursday 23 January with his loan expected to expire on Monday 30 June 2025.🆕 WELCOME, GEORGE GITAU!Another strong addition to our squad, the versatile young right-back arrives from Middlesbrough on a loan deal until the end of the season.🤝 Welcome to Raith Rovers, George.#YouBelong pic.twitter.com/34H40f3MRi— Raith Rovers Football Club (@RaithRovers) January 23, 2025 The 21-year-old was born in Hamburg, Germany to a Kenyan father and a German mother, but has spent most of his life in the United Kingdom, and has been in the ranks of Middlesbrough.Gitau is predominantly a right back, but can also play on the left side of the defense, as well at center back.The move to the Scottish club is aimed at providing Gitau a development platform after mostly featuring for Boro in their Under 21 team and in the Premier League 2 (PL 2) league.##NAJAVA_MECA_8666908##The defender had developed his skills at Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion in his early days before signing for Middlesbrough in July 2020.Gitau began by playing for the U 18 team before being promoted to the U 21, and has also featured for the club’s U 23 team.Mara Sugar celebrate Mathias Isogol’s two milestones as he departs clubAdditionally, the defender was also named on the bench for the senior team in their FA Cup clash against Brighton in 2023.While he is eligible to feature for Germany where he is a citizen, the defender chose to represent Kenya and was named in the Kenya U 23 squad for the COSAFA Championship in June 2024, even though he missed in the final squad that traveled to South Africa for the tournament.Gitau is one of the players born outside the country and with citizenships in other countries who are eligible to play for Kenya should they choose to activate such options.Harambee Stars prospect sets lofty targets after joining Hull City from AS MonacoThe addition of such players into the national team fold is important as most of them have undergone better football development in their early years and compliments the pool of talents that is being produced locally.
