Kaizer Chiefs have agreed terms over a transfer fee for Stellenbosch FC forward Ashley Du Preez ahead of his expected move to the Soweto giants.
Amakhosi have long been admirers of the newly mercurial talent that has been one of the club’s standout performers since winning promotion to the DStv Premiership back in 2019.
His pace, direct running and notable improvements in front of goal over the past 12 months have seen him emerge as one of the leading talents in the South African top flight and was recently called up to the preliminary Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Chiefs previously baulked at the Stellies buy-out clause inserted into his contract but after the last week of negotiations, led by Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Junior, the club has reached an agreement which will not include any players moving to the Cape Winelands region as they now met the release clause figure.
Happy Mashiane was the player Steve Barker’s side were keen on roping in but after standing firm on reaching a figure closer to the asking price, Chiefs have opted not to add the academy graduate as part of a player-plus-cash deal.
Amakhosi will now open talks with the players’ representatives over a contract offer, with the 24-year-old now poised to become the club’s marquee signing ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, which has promised to be a new dawn for the club who are currently within on an eight-year trophy drought.
Du Preez has scored 12 goals and registered eight assists in 64 appearances in the DStv Premiership since helping Stellies win promotion from the GladAfrica Championship.
Story by: Lorenz Köhler
