Orlando Pirates have officially announced the transfer of rising star
Mbekezeli Mbokazi to Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire, ending weeks of
speculation about the young defender’s future.
In a club statement released on Tuesday, the Buccaneers confirmed a deal has
been agreed with the American side after the 20-year-old completed a medical
and finalized personal terms during a recent trip to the United States.
The transfer caps a stunning breakthrough season for the Bafana Bafana
international, who made his professional debut only in March 2025. Since
then, Mbokazi has risen rapidly to become one of Pirates’ most prized
assets, winning his first senior trophy and earning a national team call-up
in a matter of months.
His form has made him a strong contender for Hugo Broos’ Africa Cup of
Nations squad, with the move to MLS viewed as a strategic step to further
his development on the international stage.
Notably, the agreement includes an immediate loan-back clause: Mbokazi will
remain with Orlando Pirates until the end of 2025, available for selection
until the club’s final match of the year. This ensures Pirates retain a key
player for the remainder of their domestic campaign while allowing the
defender a seamless transition to his new club in early 2026.
The structured deal reflects careful negotiation between the two clubs,
balancing immediate sporting needs with Mbokazi’s long-term career path. He
will now join Chicago Fire at the start of their preseason, embarking on
what many anticipate will be a promising chapter in top-flight North
American soccer.
