Orlando Pirates midfielder Mbekezeli Mbokazi is set to join Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire, concluding one of the club’s most notable outgoing transfers of recent seasons.
The 20-year-old, widely known as “TLB,” will formalise his move when the January transfer window opens, with the agreed fee reported to be in the region of R52 million.
The transfer comes after only 37 senior appearances for Pirates, reflecting how rapidly Mbokazi’s value has risen since breaking into the first team. However, his agent, Basia Michaels, has outlined that this was not the only international interest the player attracted ahead of the move.
Speaking to Ukhozi FM, Michaels confirmed that a European club submitted an official bid but argued that the valuation was insufficient.
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🔴 The agent of Mbekezeli Mbokazi says the best offer she received from Europe was a paltry R2-million.
"Europeans said they can't pay more for an African player."
Full story. #sabcsport411https://t.co/Fk2hXSrPVF
— Mazola J. Molefe (@superjourno) December 4, 2025
She described the offer—around €150,000 (approximately R2.9 million)—as far below what she considered a fair market price, noting that the European representatives indicated they would not increase their proposal. According to Michaels, the stance conveyed a reluctance to assign higher value to African-based players.
READ: Mbokazi’s American dream raises big Bafana questions
The decision effectively cleared the path for Chicago Fire’s bid, which aligned more closely with Pirates’ financial expectations and the player’s current output.
Mbokazi’s switch to MLS continues the long-term trend of young African talents moving to the United States, where clubs increasingly invest in developing emerging prospects.
Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images
