By Nokwanda Ncwane
South African football star Relebohile Mofokeng has described his move to Europe as a dream come true after signing a four-year contract with Belgian top-flight club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
The 21-year-old from Sharpeville, Gauteng, has been one of South African football’s brightest talents since earning a promotion from the Orlando Pirates Academy to the club’s senior team as a teenager. His impressive performances have seen him become a household name, collecting several individual awards and accolades along the way.
Most recently, Mofokeng helped Soweto giants Orlando Pirates to win a treble in the 2025/2026 season. He also represented South Africa at the FIFA World Cup 2026, which was hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Unlike the rest of the Bafana Bafana squad, Mofokeng did not return home after the tournament, travelling instead to Brussels to complete a medical examination and finalise his transfer to the Belgian outfit.
On Wednesday, Orlando Pirates confirmed that an agreement with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise had been reached before the start of the World Cup. However, both clubs agreed to delay the public announcement until after the tournament to allow Mofokeng to focus entirely on Bafana Bafana’s World Cup campaign without the distraction of transfer speculation.
Speaking after signing his contract, Mofokeng expressed his excitement about beginning the next chapter of his career.
“It’s a dream to play in Europe and to begin our Champions League qualifying campaign soon. The past year has been very special, with the league title, my first FIFA World Cup with South Africa and now this important step in my career. I hope to continue developing as a player here. Together with the team, we’ll do everything we can to compete for trophies.”
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos welcomed the move, saying he believes Mofokeng has what it takes to succeed in Europe, provided he adapts to the physical demands of Belgian football.
“I think he will progress, but Rele must become stronger. It’s a very tough competition in Belgium, and during the first five to six months they will work a lot on his physical strength. He’s a talented player, and once he has the power needed for such a competition, there will be no problem at all,” Broos told SABC Sport.
News of Mofokeng’s transfer has sparked widespread excitement on social media, with South Africans congratulating the young midfielder on achieving a major career milestone.
The move marks another significant step for one of South Africa’s most promising footballers, who will now have the opportunity to test himself in European football while continuing his development on one of the continent’s biggest stages. Mofokeng’s former Orlando Pirates teammate, defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, has also secured a move abroad after joining Chicago Fire FC, where he has quickly established himself as a fan favourite. His impressive performances earned him a place in the Miami League Team of the Season, where he received more fan votes than Lionel Messi.
