Dutch-born striker Simon Van Duivenbooden has made himself available to Kaizer Chiefs over a potential transfer ahead of the 205-26 season.
Van Duivenbooden is a free agent after leaving Dutch side Vitesse following the conclusion of his contract and is in South Africa as he searches for his next team.
With Chiefs looking for a striker to beef up coach Nasreddine Nabi’s team, Van Duivenbooden feels he has what it takes to shine at Naturena and has sung the praises of Amakhosi in a bid to entice the club into signing him.
“Kaizer Chiefs is a team with a rich history and passionate fanbase,” Van Duivenbooden told Afrika-Foot.
Van Duivenbooden ready for ‘prestigious club’ Chiefs
“I'm incredibly excited about the prospect of potentially joining such a prestigious club and contributing to their success in the Premier League. I believe my skills and experience would be a great fit, and I'm eager to explore this opportunity further.”
Born in the Netherlands to a South African father, Van Duivenbooden has lived and played in the country all his life with many of his family members also residing in the European nation.
His South African roots made him eligible to play for Bafana Bafana and the Netherlands but having not turned out for the senior Dutch team, he made the decision to represent his father’s country before acquiring his South African passport in June 2024.
Van Duivenbooden was named into the Bafana Bafana preliminary squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations before he was dropped when coach Hugo Broos named his final squad ahead of matches against Uganda and Tanzania in September 2024.
Will Chiefs listen to the Dutch-born striker’s pleas?
“As a Dutch player with South African family roots, the prospect of playing for a club like Kaizer Chiefs is incredibly exciting,” he said through a separate press release.
“I've always admired the passion and history of the club, and I believe my skills and experience would be a great fit as they compete in the Premier League. I'm eager to explore this opportunity further and connect with the amazing fans.”
The 23-year-old played 18 games for Vitesse across all competitions last season but did not score any goal and it is not known if Chiefs will be willing to take a chance on him after such a record. He had scored 24 goals in 37 games for the Vitesse U21 team before his promotion to the senior side.
