With a growing number of young players from Mzansi playing overseas, we took a look some of the most valuable South African footballers under the age of 23 playing abroad!
South Africa now boasts a plethora of young players based in foreign leagues, with several top talents having sealed moves abroad in recent seasons. Just this year alone, the likes of Njabulo Blom, Olwethu Makhanya, and Cassius Mailula made big moves to United States' top flight after impressing in Mzansi.
Read: REVEALED: Messi, Blom, Mailula co.'s lucrative MLS salaries!
More recently, Orlando Pirates sensation Relebohile Mofokeng has gone on trial with Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, and reports suggest that the 19-year-old could be on course to be the latest wonderkid at Molineux.
He is not yet among the more valuable U23 South African stars playing abroad, though. Read on to find out who is...
Lyle Foster
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lyle Foster is the country's most valuable player aged 23 or younger, with a market value of €13 million (R261 million), per Transfermarkt. The 23-year-old striker penned a new deal with the Clarets until June 2028 on Thursday afternoon following his impressive start in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, in which the Bafana Bafana marksman has already registered three goals and two assists for Vincent Kompany's side, for whom he is also their top goalscorer so far this season.
Bongokuhle Hlongwane
Hlongwane is arguably the best-performing South African abroad this year, with 17 goals and five assists in 38 games for Minnesota United. The former Maritzburg United star has seen his value shoot through the roof as a result, going from €250 000 (R5 million) when he joined them in January 2022 to €5 million (R100 million) today! Most notably, the KwaZulu-Natal native finished second behind only Lionel Messi in the 2023 MLS Leagues Cup top scorers ranking.
Njabulo Blom
Blom's club St. Louis City finished the MLS Western Conference regular season in first place, while also equalling the record for the most points by a club playing their first season in the MLS. Blom was hugely influential in that feat as he starred in the middle of the park for 26 out of the 34 games played by Bradley Carnell's team. The Dobsonvillle-born playmaker is now worth €1.2 million (R24.1 million).
Tashreeq Matthews
Matthews has been the standout performer for his Swedish club IK Sirius in this season so far as he is their best player in terms of goal involvements, with nine strikes in 26 matches. The winger's side currently finds itself in mid-table in the 2023 Allsvenskan, but the club has him to thank as he has contributed to 37% of his team's goals – the most by any player in the squad. As of September 2023, his value has increased to €900 000 (R18 million).
Kgaogelo Chauke
The second-youngest player on this list, 20-year-old Chauke has a modest market value of just €250 000 (R5 million). After developing in Southampton's academy, the playmaker now plays for Burton Albion in the English third tier after he sealed a free transfer to the club in June on a two-year deal. He has made four appearances for Burton since.
Olwethu Makhanya
The 19-year-old defender joined MLS side Philadelphia Union from Stellenbosch FC in July, signing a three-year deal with the team. Makhanya is said to be worth €450 000 (R9 million) today, and is the only defender on this list. According to Philadelphia's official website, the centre-back is "the club's first Under-22 Initiative signing", and his contract includes an option to extend until 2027.
The Mamelodi Sundowns academy graduate is now worth €1 million (R20 million) after joining Toronto FC earlier this year. The 22-year-old has made only three appearances so far for his new club so far, though, as he is slowly being phased into the team. The striker has quite some time to adjust, however, as his contract in Canada runs until 2026.
Aphelele Teto
Scottish top-flight side Livingston FC signed the teenage winger from TS Galaxy for an undisclosed fee in August. His value stands at €300 000 (R6 million), but it is unlikely to increase any time soon as the 20-year-old will only be eligible to play for them from 1 January 2024. He will wear the No. 17 shirt when he returns to the pitch and will be only the second South African to play in the Scottish Premier League after Bongani Zungu (Rangers FC) in 2021.
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