‘I just signed a new deal but…’ – Sithole puts PSL clubs on alert with surprise admission

Bafana Bafana midfielder Sphephelo Sithole may have signed a new contract at Portuguese club Tondela just last month but he is still looking to leave the club.

Sithole penned a new contract at Tondela in early December, extending his stay up to 2027, as he was coming into the final six months of his deal.

It was a surprise move given the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was just about to start and he would perhaps have secured a better deal elsewhere with a good performance in Morocco but his agent defended the move.

Sithole makes surprise admission

Now, the player has revealed that while he has signed fresh terms, it was more about securing his immediate future but is still keen to leave for a better opportunity elsewhere after AFCON 2025.

“After this tournament I want to get a better opportunity to go and play somewhere else,” Sithole told the media in Morocco.

“I have been in Portugal for the past eight years, close to nine now. I think for me to go somewhere else maybe outside of Portugal if things go well that can be good.

“I just signed a new deal yes and there is stuff that happened so I think if everything goes well, a move is going to happen,” he further said.

Bafana star has stayed long in Portugal

Sithole moved to Portugal at a young age from the KZN Academy in 2017, joining Sporting Lisbon and then Vitória Setubal as a youth player.

He would sign for B-SAD in 2019 when he started his professional journey before moving to Tondela in 2023 but limited opportunities forced him to seek a loan move to Gil Vicente in the 2024-25 campaign. However, a nasty injury when playing for Bafana Bafana saw him miss most of the season.

Sithole has since returned this season and played 14 games so far, scoring two goals, while he is one of Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos’ trusted midfield two alongside Teboho Mokoena.