Mamelodi Sundowns land Cele after Kaizer Chiefs departure

The 29-year-old was frozen out of the Soweto giants plans for the 2026/27 season, with new coach Fernando Da Cruz confirming the decision to exclude the player from the first-team squad.

Cele bid farewell to Amakhosi on social media after agreeing to the mutual termination of his contract and has now penned a deal with African champions Masandawna as they look to buff up their squad ahead of the transfer deadline.

The KwaMashu-born midfielder returned home to join Chiefs after spending his professional career playing for various clubs in Europe, playing a crucial role as the Glamour Boys to end a ten-year drought with the 2024/25 Nedbank Cup title.

He is set to become the sixth signing for the Tshwane giants during this transfer window after Cassius Mailula, Siyanda Ndlovu, Tskiki Ntsabeleng, Antonion van Wyk and the recently acquired Deano van Rooyen.

Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso had alluded to finding new solutions for his squad with a number of players missing including injured midfielder Nuno Santos and the late Jayden Adams, and Cele's acquisition should help ease midfield concerns.