He began 2018 in Europe with third at the Czech Indoor Gala and a runner-up finish at the Cinque Mulini. A 5000 m win at the Ethiopian U20 Championships and a personal best of 13:04.63 minutes to win at the Meeting Iberoamericano de Atletismo saw him enter the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships saw him enter the competition as the second fastest runner after training mate Selemon Barega. He was beaten by the heat, however, and finished fifth in the 5000 m. He made his IAAF Diamond League debut that year, placing seventh at Athletissima. He closed the year with third place at the Great Ethiopian Run. At the start of 2019 he continued to show his strength over distance with second place at the Giro Media Blenio 10K. Turning to the track, he won the Ethiopian national title, was fifth at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, then had his first Diamond League victory by winning the 5000 m at the Golden Gala, beating his partner Selemon Barega. He was third at that year's Athletissima and placed fourth at the Diamond League final at the Weltklasse Zürich.