‘They make Kaizer Chiefs pay more’: Itumeleng Khune reveals Amakhosi’s biggest market problem

Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune has accused Premier Soccer League clubs of making it increasingly difficult for Amakhosi to strengthen their squad by inflating transfer fees whenever the Soweto giants show interest in a player.

The former Bafana Bafana captain believes Chiefs are often forced to pay significantly higher amounts than other clubs for the same quality of players because of their stature and financial power in South African football.

Khune’s comments come amid reports that Chiefs were quoted a fee of around R16 million for Stellenbosch FC midfielder Langelihle Phili, with the retired goalkeeper suggesting such valuations have become a recurring challenge for his former side.

With Amakhosi preparing for a demanding 2026/27 campaign that will include CAF Confederation Cup football, Khune believes the club must continue investing in new talent but warned that the transfer market has not been straightforward for them.

“I think, to be quite honest with you, the club needs to go to the market and sign players because they’ll be competing in the CAF Confederation Cup next season,” Khune said as per FARPost.

“So they need to beef up the squad, but as we all know, it’s not easy for Kaizer Chiefs to sign the best players they need. Unfortunately, for any player Chiefs want, the price will be doubled, and it’s not fair.”

Khune calls for financial fair play in PSL

The Kaizer Chiefs icon, who spent his entire professional career at Naturena, believes South African football needs stronger regulations to prevent clubs from being disadvantaged during transfer negotiations.

Khune argued that introducing financial fair play measures across all 16 PSL teams could create a more balanced environment where clubs operate under similar financial conditions.

“I think in South African football we need financial fair play because some teams are able to sign players, but other teams are unable to do that. I think we need to revisit that clause and activate it in all 16 teams for fairness,” he added.

According to Khune, a structured approach would help eliminate situations where certain clubs are forced to pay excessive fees while others are able to complete similar deals at more reasonable valuations.

Amakhosi continue squad rebuild ahead of continental return

Chiefs have already added three players during the current transfer window as head coach Nasreddine Nabi continues efforts to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts.

The club’s return to continental football has increased the urgency to improve squad depth, with Amakhosi needing enough quality to handle both domestic competitions and their CAF commitments.

However, Khune believes the club’s recruitment process remains complicated because of the perception that Chiefs can afford to pay more than their rivals.

The former goalkeeper, who became one of the most recognisable figures in Chiefs history after more than a decade at the club, feels the transfer system places an unfair burden on Amakhosi whenever they pursue top PSL talent.