Maart reveals how he forced transfer to Europe amid Kaizer Chiefs’ resistance

Yusuf Maart has opened up about his decision to leave Kaizer Chiefs for Austrian Bundesliga club SV Ried, a move that materialised just before the current season kicked off.

The Cape Town-born midfielder made his first career move to Europe in July 2025, joining Ried and quickly cementing his place as a regular starter. His departure came as a shock to many Amakhosi supporters, as the 30-year-old was the team captain at the time.

Speculation about the transfer intensified when Maart was conspicuously absent from the squad that travelled to the Netherlands for a pre-season camp. However, the groundwork for the move had been laid months in advance.

Yusuf Maart after his signing by Austrian club SV Ried. Photo – SV Ried

“It was about three months before the 2024/25 season ended,” Maart explained to SoccerBeat as perFARPost. “They called me for a Zoom meeting with my agent, Karabo Tshabuse, and asked if I was willing to come. I told them if everything is good, why not?”

Maart gets candid on leaving Chiefs

“I said if they can sort it out with the club, Chiefs, then I’m ready to take the next step. That’s how it came about. They still had a few games in the second division they needed to win to be guaranteed promotion, but they were fully confident they were going to make it.”

Yusuf Maart celebrates a goal at SV Ried. Photo: SV Ried

Maart’s exit came at a pivotal moment. Despite Chiefs finishing outside the top eight under his leadership, he had scored the winning goal in the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates, ending the club’s decade-long trophy drought.

Unsurprisingly, the Soweto giants were reluctant to let their captain go when SV Ried made their approach. “I told them [Chiefs] that it’s a possibility I could leave when the season ends,” said Maart, who previously played for Sekhukhune United. “They said, ‘Yusuf, let’s see, because we need you for a few more seasons.’”

“For me, at my age, it was a great opportunity. When Ried got promoted, I went home to Cape Town for my holiday. I came back and trained with Chiefs for about two or three weeks, but Ried were calling on the other side.”

Former Kaizer Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart celebrating the Nedbank Cup. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

Ex-Amakhosi star was begged to stay

The midfielder revealed that the Chiefs coaching staff tried to persuade him to stay, but his mind was set. “The Chiefs coaches asked me to stay, but I said it’s an opportunity I don’t want to miss—to play in Europe and experience it. They disagreed, but SV Ried were negotiating directly with the club.”

The situation came to a head just before the team’s pre-season tour. “I told my agent to talk to Kaizer Motaung Jnr. The day before we were set to leave for the Netherlands, I went in and told Junior that I wasn’t going with them,” Maart recounted.

Yusuf Maart plaaying for Kaizer Chiefs. Picture by Kaizer Chiefs

“My agent said I didn’t have to go if I didn’t want to, because a deal was close. I told them my mind was already made up. As a player, if your mind is made up, you won’t be the same player you were before.”

Following that decision, Maart trained alone for two weeks before finally completing his transfer to Austria. “For about a week, I was at home, training on my own. The second week I did more, and after that, I left and came here.”