Orlando Pirates have officially stepped away from the long-running chase to sign prolific Congolese striker Fiston Mayele, ending years of interest and attempts to bring the goal scorer to Soweto.
The Buccaneers had made Mayele a key transfer target since the era of Spanish coach José Riveiro, looking to add a proven goal threat to their attack. However, despite multiple negotiations and efforts from agents locally and abroad, the player’s soaring market value has put the deal out of reach.
A source close to the club said,
“Pirates have been after Mayele since Riveiro’s time. There were several tries to bring him in, but his price has become too high for the South African market.”
Mayele’s Stellar Rise Leaves Local Clubs Behind
The 30-year-old spearheaded Pyramids FC’s historic CAF Champions League victory, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with nine goals — including key strikes against Pirates in the semis and Mamelodi Sundowns in the final. He also helped his Egyptian club secure second place in the league and a run to the Egypt Cup final.
His performances on the continental stage dramatically boosted his value.
Eye-Watering Contract Keeps Mayele Beyond Reach
Reports from Egypt reveal Pyramids FC have offered Mayele a massive contract extension worth about R70 million per season, a financial package far beyond the reach of local clubs like Pirates.
With this reality, Orlando Pirates have shifted their attention to more affordable targets.
Chiefs Still Interested, But Price is a Barrier
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs remain keen on Mayele, who has a strong connection with their coach Nasreddine Nabi from their time together at Young Africans SC in Tanzania. Yet, the striker’s hefty price tag presents the same challenge for Chiefs as it did for Pirates.
