The R65 million record-breaker rewriting South African soccer history
In short: How does a teenager go from an academy transfer to becoming the most expensive domestic sale in his country's history? Relebohile Mofokeng’s meteoric rise—marked by historic cup records and a move to Belgium—offers a masterclass in rapid professional ascent.
Born on October 23, 2004, Relebohile Mofokeng (formerly known as Ratomo) emerged from the Transnet School of Excellence. His path to stardom began with a strategic transfer arrangement between two giants: Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates. While his teammate Siyabonga Mabena moved to Sundowns, Mofokeng joined the Buccaneers' academy, where he quickly transitioned from the reserve team in the DStv Diski Challenge to the first team. His impact was immediate but nuanced by administrative hurdles. In his debut start on May 3, 2023, against Royal AM, a shot he took was credited as an own-goal because it initially missed the target before deflecting in. By his second game, however, he proved his offensive potency with both a goal and an assist. His rapid accumulation of accolades followed: he won the Nedbank Cup most promising player award for 2023–24 and was named Young Player of the Season for three consecutive years (2024, 2025, and 2026). Mofokeng’s legacy is defined by historic milestones. By netting a late extra-time goal versus Marumo Gallants during the 2025 Carling Knockout Cup, he set a record as the PSL's junior-most athlete to find the net throughout three domestic cup finals. His value peaked on July 2, 2026, when he signed with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise for approximately R65.3 million (€3.5 million), shattering Percy Tau’s 2018 record of R50 million. This transition from a domestic prodigy to a World Cup representative in 2026 highlights a shift in the market value and visibility of South African talent.
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