Kaizer Chiefs to Accept Transfer of Thembinkosi Lorch
Football club Kaizer Chiefs are locked in high-stakes negotiations to secure the signing of Thembinkosi Lorch. The football star’s potential entry into Chiefs would be a blockbuster transfer that has sent shockwaves through South African football.
The former Orlando Pirates player is being linked with a sensational return to the Premier Soccer League (PSL). If completed, Lorch would join the rare group of players to have represented not only Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, but also Mamelodi Sundowns.
Thembinkosi Lorch Kaizer Chiefs Transfer Speculation Grows
Speculation intensified when broadcaster Robert Marawa confirmed on air that Lorch had been seen at FNB Stadium.
Leading FARPost reporter Mthokozisi Dube added that the 33-year-old has been in and around the Kaizer Chiefs setup for a couple of days.
Neither Kaizer Chiefs nor Lorch’s representatives have officially confirmed an advanced deal.
Lorch’s Recent Career Path
Lorch struggled for regular opportunities following the departure of Rulani Mokwena from Mamelodi Sundowns. He later moved on loan to Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca, where he featured at the FIFA Club World Cup, but is reportedly seeking a fresh challenge and a bigger role.
Lorch signed a 30-month contract with Libyan club Al Ittihad Tripoli in January 2026. He is contracted until 31 December 2027 and reportedly earns around R1.2 million (€75,000) per month. Any move to Chiefs may require him to accept a significant pay cut, or for the club to adjust its salary structure.
The transfer fee could also exceed R15 million. Moroccan club Maghreb Fès are reportedly monitoring the situation and could provide competition with lucrative offers.
Would Lorch Join a Rare Club of Soweto Derby Veterans?
Lorch is a highly sought-after player and a veteran capable of turning a match in his team’s favour. He is regarded as one of South Africa’s standout footballers.
A move to Chiefs would give him ties to three of South Africa’s biggest clubs, Pirates, Chiefs and Sundowns, underlining his adaptability as a player. At 33, Lorch remains a disciplined professional. His time with North African clubs, including Wydad Casablanca, Maghreb Fès and Al Ittihad Tripoli, has tested his limits on the international stage.
Money will inevitably play a role in any decision, and whichever club secures his signature is likely to offer him a lucrative contract. But Lorch will need to stay focused on his football rather than the financial upside. At 33, he remains a formidable player with a long career behind him. While the transfer talk is still speculation for now, more clarity on Lorch’s next move is expected to emerge soon.
Transfers like this often come down to timing and leverage. Clubs compete to secure the best available players, and how this saga plays out will depend not just on what Chiefs offer, but on how well they can outmanoeuvre their competitors for Lorch’s signature.
Should the Thembinkosi Lorch Kaizer Chiefs transfer go through, it would rank among the more talked-about PSL moves this season, alongside other recent shifts in South African football such as AmaZulu’s Premier’s Cup title defence.
