Kaizer Chiefs have reportedly secured the services of one of their long-term targets following a drawn-out transfer saga.
Chiefs were engaged with Cape Town Spurs for the transfer of winger Asanele Velebayi last year but Amakhosi’s offer of R4 million was rejected with the club standing firm that they would not lose one of their most prized assets on the cheap.
That was after Cape Town Spurs had been relegated after a season in the PSL and the club hoped that Velebayi would help them bounce back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
Spurs loss is Chiefs’ gain
However, things went horribly wrong for the club as they were relegated to the third tier in 2024-25, leaving Chiefs in a position of strength regarding the player’s future.
With only the PSL and Motsepe Foundation Championships recognised as professional leagues, Velebayi automatically became a free agent following Cape Town Spurs’ relegation and it seems Chiefs have pounced.
According to Unplayable, Chiefs have signed the 22-year-old and will be part of the team heading to the Netherlands for pre-season next month.
Has Velebayi signed for Amakhosi?
“Kaizer Chiefs finally get the ‘diamond’… Asanele Velebayi will soon be Khosified and travel with the team to the Netherlands,” the outlet posted on X.
The news comes one month after the player’s camp shut the door on Velebayi staying at Spurs in light of their relegation.
“No, his contract is of a professional nature and as far as I understand the procedures, Asanele and his team-mates are effectively free agents and can get their clearances tomorrow if need be,” a source close to the player told SABC in May.
Chiefs are in the market for attacking reinforcements to improve coach Nasreddine Nabi’s squad which struggled to score goals last season.
