Reports from abroad have reignited rumours of Relebohile Mofokeng’s potential move to Saudi Arabia with several publications discussing Al-Ettifaq as a possible destination for the Orlando Pirates sensation.
However, Saudi Pro League regulations may pose a stumbling block to any potential highly anticipated transfer.
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Al-Midan Sports publication is stating that a move for Mofokeng is imminent; however, according to Saudi Arabia’s player registration rules, clubs are only permitted to register two foreign players under the age of 21. As it stands, Ettifaq already have two such players on their books:
- Mohau Nkota (20) – who joined earlier this year from South Africa.
- Joao Costa (20) – the Portuguese attacker who is currently sidelined with an ACL injury and is only expected to return in October.
That timeline overlaps significantly with Mofokeng’s 21st birthday, which also falls in October, making it a grey area for the Saudi club. If Ettifaq were to finalise the move for the Orlando Pirates star before then, they would be forced to make a decision regarding one of their existing U21 foreign players or delay the registration until Mofokeng is no longer subject to the age-specific quota.
The talented Sharpeville-born winger has been monitored by several clubs across the globe, including in the Netherlands and Israel. To date, Pirates have denied bids from teams in Israel and Holland for Mofokeng.
Mofokeng was named in Pirates’ official 34-man squad for the 2025/26 season and remains one of the most talked-about talents in South African football, following an exceptional campaign that saw him notch 12 goals and 15 assists.
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Whether Ettifaq can overcome the regulatory hurdle remains to be seen, but the interest in Mofokeng continues to grow, and so does the sense that his future may soon lie beyond the borders of South Africa. Though, as it stands, it remains to be seen if Mofokeng might stay at Bucs after all.
