Kaizer Chiefs’ pursuit of Asanele Velebayi has been a long-running saga, with the Soweto giants showing significant interest in the talented winger before the start of the current season. However, despite their efforts, Chiefs had several bids for the 22-year-old rejected earlier in the year.
After Cape Town Spurs’ relegation from the PSL, Velebayi’s future became a topic of much speculation. The promising youngster was relegated to the National First Division (NFD) with Spurs, sparking a wave of transfer rumors. Despite the heightened interest from various clubs, Spurs managed to retain their prized asset, holding firm in their bid to keep him.
In the summer transfer window, Kaizer Chiefs did not follow up on their pursuit of the Bafana Bafana star, opting instead to focus on signing more experienced players like Tashreeq Morris, who joined from SuperSport United at the age of 30. However, the transfer landscape has shifted again, and it seems Chiefs may still have an eye on Velebayi.
This month, Sekhukhune United reportedly had a bid for Velebayi rejected, as Cape Town Spurs held out for R10 million for the winger. This development has raised questions about whether Kaizer Chiefs might re-enter the race for Velebayi, especially given the relatively low valuation compared to other players.
Velebayi’s agent, Lance Davids, spoke candidly about the negotiations with Chiefs and how the deal fell through before the start of the 2024/25 season. “Chiefs came back with a second offer, which, in my opinion, was very fair, including add-ons, but Spurs didn’t accept it,” Davids revealed. “They thought the valuation was too low, and that’s where the talks ended.”
Davids also offered his perspective on the player’s value in comparison to other potential signings. “If you compare Velebayi’s value to Oswin Appollis’, it’s clear that Velebayi is the more valuable player. What has Appollis really achieved over the past year?” he asked, questioning why Spurs held out for such a high price.
“The valuation of Velebayi was quite high, but Chiefs’ offer was reasonable. In my opinion, they could have added a bit more in terms of add-ons, but Chiefs were fair in their approach,” Davids added. “At first, Cape Town Spurs wanted R12 million, but they later dropped it to R10 million. Chiefs offered R5 million plus players, but that wasn’t accepted.”
With the price tag still lingering around R10 million, it remains to be seen whether Kaizer Chiefs will reconsider their stance on Velebayi and make a renewed push to bring him to Naturena. Given the club’s recent activity in the transfer market, Velebayi could still be a potential target if the right offer is made.
