Agent plots European move for Pirates star after AFCON

Evidence Makgopa. Picture courtesy Orlando Pirates/X

Football agent Paul Mitchell is plotting a European transfer move for Orlando Pirates star Evidence Makgopa after the conclusion of the AFCON.

Makgopa is in camp with Bafana Bafana, gearing up for the highly-anticipated Nations Cup pencilled in Morocco between December and January. The lanky striker earned a place in the Bafana squad after having a decent start to the 2025/26 campaign. He played a major role in Pirates winning the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup under the guidance of head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

Makgopa has also been influential in Pirates finishing the first round of the current season at the top of the Betway Premiership table. So far, Makgopa has featured in 18 matches across all competitions, scoring four goals and contributing three assists. The 25-year-old has shared the scoring responsibilities with Yanela Mbuthuma in the striking department.

With Pirates facilitating two transfers for key players Mohau Nkota and Mbekezeli Mbokazi to Al-Ettifaq and Chicago Fire in the past few months, Makgopa’s agent has revealed that they are hoping to use AFCON to complete a move for the Limpopo-born forward.

‘MAKGOPA CAN THRIVE IN THE ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP’: PAUL MITCHELL

Paul Mitchell further disclosed that Makgopa had received two solid offers from European teams before joining Pirates, but that his former club, Baroka FC, rejected them.

Evidence Makgopa. Picture courtesy of Orlando Pirates/Facebook

“It’s no secret that before Makgopa went to Pirates, we had two significant offers on the table with a lot of money at the time for Baroka to go overseas, it was rejected, and he went to Pirates,” Mitchell told the Soccer Beat podcast.

“He’s thriving at Orlando Pirates, he has had a decent scoring ratio, and we’ve had interest in him in the last window from North Africa, but it wasn’t what we wanted and what Evidence wanted.

“I think a lot of people don’t understand that when you go to North Africa, one of the biggest things is receiving your money. We’ve been on that route before, where big clubs are not paying players their money.

“So with Europe, I’m hoping through the AFCON he could get a move. He’s offering a lot, and I think he could thrive in the English Championship because he has that work rate and the agility. We are always open, and when we did his new deal with Pirates, it was not a secret that the desire is to go overseas, and if the offer is right, I’m sure they will facilitate the move.”