Buccaneers bring in midfield reinforcement

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Dec 06, 2025. 15:00

Orlando Pirates has added further depth to its midfield as its charge for a 10th league title continues, with the club set to sign New Zealand international Andre de Jong from Stellenbosch.

This is according to iDiski times.

De Jong joined the Maroons from Royal AM in January 2023 and helped the club lift its first piece of silverware in the South African top flight, claiming the 2023/24 Carling Knockout title.

He is one of 12 players to have notched 100 appearances for the Cape Winelands club and has been an integral part of their success in the past two seasons, helping the Maroons to two consecutive third-place finishes in the Betway Premiership and reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Confederations Cup in the clubs’ maiden appearance in continental competition last season.

The All Whites midfielder is set to join the Buccaneers at the opening of the transfer window in January.

Stellenbosch has struggled this season. The team sits barely above the relegation zone with 12 points, having managed only three league wins to go with three draws and eight losses.

The Maroons made an impressive run in the MTN8, falling to the Buccaneers in the final for the second consecutive season.

Orlando Pirates are enjoying a fruitful first season under new head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

The Sea Robbers are at the top of the league standings with 28 points, two points above reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns with a game in hand.

With no domestic league games scheduled for the rest of December after the 7th due to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Soweto giants will be at the top of the standing at Christmas for only the second time in league history. Subdowns are not at the top of the league for the first time since 2019.

Pirates are unbeaten in domestic competition since 12 August and could end Sundowns streak of eight consecutive league titles.

By Nic Gleeson