Kaizer Chiefs have reached an agreement with Portuguese top-flight club FC Alverca to sign Nkanyiso Shinga. The transfer is pending a medical examination and the finalisation of personal terms.
Amakhosi coach Nasreddine Nabi requested a specialist left-back following the departure of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe. The Botswana international left Chiefs in February to join Libyan giants Al Ittihad, creating a void in the left-back position.
Nabi faced challenges in filling that role, as Bongani Sam, signed at the start of the season from Orlando Pirates, failed to make a single appearance.
Bradley Cross was also tried in that position but struggled to assert himself, finishing the season playing as a left centre-back when Rushwin Dortley was injured. Chiefs explored several options, including Shinga. Although the Soweto club has already signed Paseka Mako, they continued pursuing Shinga.
The club first engaged Shinga late last year. However, following Alverca’s promotion to the Primeira Liga, closing the deal became more difficult.
The Alverca do Ribatejo-based club was also eager to extend his contract. Shinga, who has been in Portugal for seven years, had a year left on his contract with the newly promoted side, which was set to expire in June 2026.
Shinga played a crucial role in a club partly owned by Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr., featuring 22 times in the recently concluded season.
HOW CHIEFS HAVE LANDED NKANYISO SHINGA
Chiefs have been persistent in securing an agreement for a transfer fee with the club. Indications suggest that the club is eager to have the player available before they travel to the Netherlands for pre-season.
The Soweto Giants will be based in the Netherlands for their tour, starting with a match against SBV Vitesse Arnhem on July 8, followed by a game against FC Utrecht three days later. On July 12, NEC Nijmegen will be their next opponent. After a brief break, they will face PEC Zwolle on July 15, concluding their tour with a match against FC Twente Enschede the following day.
Shinga had stints with Vitória Setúbal, Pinhalnovense and Juventude de Évora before passing through the Amadora Star. In 2024, he transferred to Alverca, in the second Portuguese division.
This past season was another underwhelming campaign for Chiefs, who finished ninth in the Betway Premiership. While they secured their first silverware in a decade by defeating Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final, it couldn’t mask the fact that AmaKhosi finished outside the top eight for the second consecutive season.
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