Top 6 Transfers from Orlando Pirates to Mamelodi Sundowns and their Transfer Fees

Transfers between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have shaped the PSL landscape for decades. These moves often involve big money, high expectations, and career-defining moments.

Here are six of the most notable transfers and what they meant for both clubs.

1. Monnapule Saleng

Transfer Fee: R15 Million (Rumored)

Saleng’s January 2026 move was one of the most talked-about transfers in recent memory. After a loan spell at Orbit College where he scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists in 11 matches, Sundowns swooped in with a reported R15 million deal. His arrival adds blistering pace and creativity to an already stacked attack, signaling Sundowns’ intent to dominate both the Betway Premiership and the CAF Champions League.

2) Thembinkosi Lorch

Transfer Fee: R10 Million

Lorch’s switch in January 2024 was a blockbuster. Pirates’ talisman joined Sundowns for R10 million, bringing flair and experience to Chloorkop. In his debut season, Lorch featured in 27 matches, scoring 7 goals and providing key assists. His ability to unlock defenses made him a vital asset, though competition for places saw him loaned to Wydad Casablanca in 2025, where he impressed in the FIFA Club World Cup. This move remains one of the most significant in recent PSL history.

3) Teko Modise

Transfer Fee: €500,000 (Approx. R9.5 Million)

In 2011, Modise’s transfer from Pirates to Sundowns was a seismic moment. After a fallout at Pirates, Sundowns paid €500,000 to secure his services. Modise reinvented himself at Chloorkop, becoming a midfield maestro and helping Sundowns win multiple league titles and the CAF Champions League. His leadership and vision cemented his legacy as one of the PSL’s greatest players.

4) Lebogang “Cheeseboy” Mokoena

Transfer Fee: Undisclosed

Mokoena was one of South Africa’s brightest prospects when he left Pirates for Sundowns in 2009. While the transfer fee was never disclosed, the move included a significant salary increase. Despite high expectations, Mokoena struggled to replicate his early promise but remained a valuable squad player during his time at Sundowns.

5) Oupa Manyisa

Transfers Fee: Free

After nearly a decade at Pirates, Manyisa joined Sundowns in 2017 on a free transfer. Though no fee was involved, his arrival was seen as a coup for Sundowns, adding experience and depth to their midfield. Injuries hampered his impact, but Manyisa’s move highlighted Sundowns’ strategy of acquiring seasoned campaigners to maintain dominance.

6) Gift Leremi

Transfer Fee: R800,000

Leremi’s move in 2007 was a major story. Sundowns paid R800,000 for the talented winger, who was expected to become a cornerstone of their attack. Tragically, his career was cut short later that year due to a fatal car accident, but his transfer remains etched in PSL history as one of the most heartbreaking stories.