Bradley Cross: How Kaizer Chiefs defender missed dream MLS move

Kaizer Chiefs defender Bradley Cross might have been playing in the MLS by now were it not for an unfortunate occurrence.

Cross signed for Chiefs in 2024 but he would have joined Amakhosi two years later although the Glamour Boys would also have missed out had things gone right for the player.

At the time, Cross travelled to the United States for trials with MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy, having left Newcastle United, but it ended as soon as it started, as his father Paul has narrated to Soccer Laduma.

What killed Cross’ MLS dream?

“Bradley did travel to America to do trials. LA Galaxy, I think. He got there on the first day of training, went into a 50-50 tackle, and pulled his knee out. That’s how the injury came about,” Paul said.

“They assessed it with specialists and said it would be an eight-to-ten-week recovery. That put an end to the assessment. They just sent him back, put him on a plane, and said, ‘We’re not going to entertain it. Let’s see what happens once he’s recovered.’”

Having been dumped over his injury, Chiefs, who had initially shown interest, kept off as they were not sure about the defender’s fitness.

Maritzburg and Arrows to the rescue

Cross would be forced to seek opportunities elsewhere, joining Maritzburg United and the Golden Arrows, where he rebuilt his career and Chiefs came back in for him ahead of the 2024-25 season.

The defender, who can play at left-back and centre-back, has since become a key player for Chiefs, playing 37 games for the Soweto giants since arriving at Naturena.

Cross is Chiefs’ first-choice left-back for the second season in a row and has made 14 appearances so far this term.