Pirates Close to Sensational Deadline-Day Deal for Stellenbosch Star

In a major development on transfer deadline day, Orlando Pirates are said to be on the verge of completing a significant deal for Stellenbosch’s standout playmaker, Andre de Jong. 

The New Zealand international has established himself as one of the league’s most influential players since joining Stellies from Royal AM in January 2023. 

Over his 103 appearances for the club, de Jong has been a model of consistency, scoring 16 goals and providing 11 assists. He has been the engine of Steve Barker’s system, featuring prominently in the number 10 role and pulling the strings in the attacking third.

De Jong’s impressive form has not gone unnoticed, and sources now confirm that the Buccaneers have made a formal move to secure his services. 

The deal is reportedly in its final stages and could be completed before the close of the transfer window later today. This would mark a huge coup for Pirates, who are looking to bolster their squad with top-tier talent.

Despite the advanced nature of the negotiations, the transfer is not yet a done deal. Stellenbosch CEO Rob Benadie remains cautiously optimistic about retaining his star player.

WHAT STELLIES CEO SAID ABOUT THE POTENTIAL MOVE

In an interview with iDiski Times, he stated, “No, that deal is not done yet, it might be done in the next few hours. But it’s not done yet and we’re hoping that he stays with us.” 

These remarks underscore the frantic nature of deadline day, where clubs are racing against the clock to finalize crucial deals.

The potential signing of de Jong would be the 14th new player to join Pirates this transfer window, signaling a new and ambitious era under head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. 

If the transfer goes through, de Jong's arrival would add significant creativity and goal-scoring threat to the Pirates’ attack, making them even more formidable as they aim to compete for silverware this season.