Kaizer Chiefs Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr has moved to dispel
the long-held perception that the club relies heavily on signing free
agents, insisting that Amakhosi have invested “millions of rands” in recent
transfer windows to strengthen the squad.
Chiefs have often been tagged as a club reluctant to pay transfer fees,
preferring to wait for players to become out of contract—a model many
supporters believe has contributed to the team’s failure to meet
expectations in recent seasons.
Speaking on 947’s MSW, Motaung Jr addressed the narrative head-on,
acknowledging past recruitment missteps but emphasizing the club’s financial
commitment in the market.
“I also want to debunk this issue of free players,” Motaung Jr said. “In the
last few years, we have really been active in the transfer market. We’ve
spent millions of rands to make sure we reinforce the squad. It has just
been a situation where we can acknowledge there are moments we got it
wrong—players we brought in who have not been the right fit—and we take
responsibility for that. But we’ve gone back and rectified those steps.”
According to FIFA’s Global Transfer Reports, Chiefs’ spending in 2025 placed
them among the biggest spenders not only in the PSL but across the CAF
region. Amakhosi ranked as the second-highest spenders in South Africa,
behind only Mamelodi Sundowns, and secured a spot in the top ten clubs from
the CAF region for transfer expenditure—coming in at tenth place. Sundowns
were the only other South African club on that list, ranked ninth.
However, Chiefs’ appearance among Africa’s top spenders in 2025 came during
a year when overall PSL spending dropped significantly. PSL clubs
collectively spent $3.6 million (around R49 million) in 2024, but that
figure plummeted to just $650,000 (approximately R10.7 million) in 2025.
It’s worth noting that signing-on fees are also recorded as part of these
expenditures.
The sharp decline in total league spending could also be attributed to
Mamelodi Sundowns adopting a quieter approach in 2025. The Brazilians signed
Miguel Reisinho as a free agent, while Nuno Santos reportedly cost only €1
million (around R20 million)—a modest outlay by their standards.
The trend reversed dramatically in the 2026 January transfer window,
however, with PSL spending surging back to $3.22 million (roughly R53
million). This spike was largely driven by Sundowns’ high-profile
acquisition of Brayan Leon, in a deal reportedly worth $3.5 million (R58
million), which includes signing-on fees and his salary package over a
three-year contract.
While Chiefs have clearly invested in the transfer market, the fluctuating
spending patterns across the league raise questions about whether the club
has spent wisely—and whether the investment has translated into the on-field
success that the club’s faithful desperately crave.
