Orlando Pirates Re-Enter Race to Sign Cape Town City Wonderkid Emile Witbooi

SportsBoom has learned that the 2025/26 Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates have re-entered the R20 million race to sign 18-year-old Emile Witbooi to bolster the squad after mass exits in the transfer window.

R20 Million Race For Witbooi

Cape Town City FC have remained unshaken on their valuation of Witbooi, with the club asking for €1 million to let go of the youngster in whom they have invested so much.

Many teams, local and abroad, have come and knocked on the door, with many returning empty-handed, having not been willing to match Cape Town City’s asking price for the young prodigy.

Some of those local teams were Orlando Pirates earlier in the transfer window, with reports having suggested that the mighty Buccaneers also enquired and that the youngster himself had been keen to make the move to Orlando Pirates.

However, that did not amount to much until a Lukas Podolski-owned team, the Polish-based Gornik Zabrze, came knocking and seemed to be willing to match Cape Town City’s asking price, having seen the youngster’s qualities and deemed them worthy of the R20 million investment.

SportsBoom has learned that Orlando Pirates have re-entered the conversation for Witbooi’s signature, motivated by the exit of their stars during the ongoing transfer window.

Mass Exits & Replacements

Thus far, Orlando Pirates have had some of their stars leave the club, including Relebohile Mofokeng, and most recently the talented Patrick Maswanganyi to clubs in Belgium and Bahrain, respectively.

In total, 17 players left Orlando Pirates during this transfer window, including key players such as Tshegofatso Mabasa and Sipho Mbule.

With so many playmakers having left, the addition of Witbooi would do the club a world of good as it looks to defend its league title.

Moreover, Orlando Pirates have made some impressive signings, including that of striker Sebastian Pedersen, Matome Mmolai and Bohale Ngwato.

Thus far, Orlando Pirates remain undefeated in the Betway Premiership and the MTN8, having reached the final after moving past Sekhukhune United in the two-legged semi-final over the last two weeks.

However, there are holes in the defending champions' game, a feat that makes it a logical step to try and bring on Witbooi to bolster the squad.