As Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi closes in on a reported $3
million (R51 million) transfer to Chicago Fire, the financial implications
of the move are coming into sharp focus. The 20-year-old’s potential signing
under MLS’s U22 Initiative could place him among the highest-earning South
African players in the league.
Mbokazi, who has reportedly travelled to the United States to finalize the
deal, fits the profile for the league’s special mechanism for high-potential
talents aged 22 or younger. For players aged 20 and under, the rule assigns
a modest salary-budget charge of $150,000 to the club, but this is not a cap
on their actual earnings. Clubs are free to pay these players significantly
higher wages, offer substantial bonuses, and structure long-term contracts
without restriction.
This is the same pathway that has proven lucrative for several of Mbokazi’s
compatriots. For context:
- Bongokuhle Hlongwane earns $1,142,500 annually (approx. R24 million /
R2 million per month). - Cassius Mailula is on a $341,003 salary (approx. R5.9 million /
R494,000 per month). - Olwethu Makhanya earns $288,875 per year (approx. R5 million /
R418,000 per month).
Given Chicago Fire’s significant investment of a $3 million transfer fee,
Mbokazi is almost certain to command a salary in the upper echelon for U22
signings. Industry analysis suggests his annual earnings could realistically
range from $300,000 (R5.2 million) to $900,000 (R15.6 million), depending on
bonuses, guarantees, and performance-related clauses.
His profile as a Bafana Bafana international and an Orlando Pirates regular
further strengthens his negotiating position. With new coach Gregg Berhalter
favoring athletic, ball-playing defenders, Mbokazi would be viewed as an
immediate first-team asset, not a developmental project.
Should the transfer be completed, Mbekezeli Mbokazi is poised to secure one
of the most financially significant moves of his career, positioning himself
firmly among the top-earning South African exports in Major League Soccer.
