Bayern Munich to pocket Sh728 million for Ajax friendly at Raila Odinga Stadium

The newly-built Talanta Sports Stadium in Nairobi. (Photo: Erick Kariuki)

Bayern Munich are reportedly set to earn approximately Sh728 million for facing Ajax Amsterdam in a friendly match scheduled for January 5, 2027, to officially open the Raila Odinga International Stadium in Nairobi.

According to German media reports, the Bundesliga giants will receive €5 million for the appearance, equivalent to about Sh727.6 million at an exchange rate of Sh145.52 per euro. The reported fee highlights the commercial scale of the event, which will bring two of Europe’s most decorated clubs to Kenya.

The match has been confirmed by both clubs and will be played at the 60,000-capacity stadium along Ngong Road, marking the facility’s official opening ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

“A special match to kick off the new year: FC Bayern travels to Nairobi on January 5, 2027, and will face Ajax Amsterdam as part of the ceremonial opening of the new national stadium,” Bayern Munich announced.

Ajax also confirmed the fixture, stating: “We’re proud to announce that we will face FC Bayern in the opening match of the new Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City in Nairobi, Kenya.”

Bayern’s trip is being coordinated by Rouven Kasper, the club’s board member responsible for marketing and sales. The visit forms part of the German side’s strategy to strengthen its relationship with supporters across Africa and expand its international profile.

Bayern have a substantial following on the continent, and the Nairobi fixture will give fans an opportunity to watch the club in action without travelling to Europe.

The reported €5 million fee would make the Nairobi appearance a major commercial undertaking. However, the full financial arrangements for the event, including the costs of staging the match and the contributions of corporate partners, have not been publicly detailed.

For Kenya, the friendly represents an opportunity to showcase its new sporting infrastructure to an international audience before AFCON 2027.

President William Ruto announced the fixture in a recorded address, describing the stadium as a major investment in the country’s sporting future.

He said the match would be delivered through corporate partnerships and a self-sustaining commercial model intended to attract private investment and generate revenue.

The stadium features a hybrid playing surface, 52 skyboxes, video assistant referee technology and goal-line technology, according to the President. It has been developed as a purpose-built venue for football and rugby and is expected to play a key role in Kenya’s preparations for AFCON.

The government hopes the facility will help Kenya attract more international sporting events, boost tourism and create commercial opportunities around major competitions.

The choice of Bayern and Ajax also gives the opening match considerable sporting appeal. The two clubs have won Europe’s premier club competition a combined 10 times, making their meeting a high-profile occasion for Kenyan football supporters.

Tickets for the January 5 match are scheduled to go on sale on November 5 through the stadium’s official ticketing platform.

As attention turns to the opening, the reported fee offers a glimpse into the financial scale of attracting elite European clubs to Kenya.

The longer-term measure of success, however, will be whether the event helps establish the new stadium as a sustainable venue for international sport.