Mamelodi Sundowns are poised to finally secure the signature of Cape Town City FC‘s rising star, Jody Ah Shene, just hours before Thursday’s transfer deadline.
The move, initially touted months ago, has been reignited, with the player reportedly arriving in Gauteng on Wednesday to finalise the necessary formalities.
While the Brazilians have high hopes for the South African U-20 international, the club plans to facilitate his development through a loan. Although it is unclear where they could loan him, a similar pathway created for Aphelele Teto, who went to the University of Pretoria, could be followed.
Sundowns and the club, popularly known as AmaTuks, have a partnership dating back to 2021. A move to the Tshwane club could ensure the young attacker receives consistent minutes in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
WHY THE AH SHENE DEAL WAS ON ICE
Although a club-to-club agreement was reportedly reached as early as September, the move was delayed for several reasons. Both parties reportedly felt Ah Shene needed guaranteed game time to cement his spot in the national U-20 setup.
His stay in Cape Town proved fruitful, as he played a key role in South Africa’s participation in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. The Under-20 AFCON winner scored one goal and provided an assist in three outings at the World Cup. At the AFCON, he also scored and provided an assist. While some reports suggest personal terms were a sticking point in the previous window, the current sentiment is that these obstacles have been cleared.
With a medical assessment reportedly scheduled for Wednesday, the transfer is expected to be finalised before the registration window closes on Thursday night.
The 20-year-old arrives with a glowing reputation, having claimed the Golden Boot at the COSAFA U-20 tournament. He scored four goals in the tournament hosted in Mozambique.
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