Aden McCarthy says Champions League opportunity drove Kaizer Chiefs departure

Aden McCarthy has explained his decision to leave Kaizer Chiefs for Sabah FK, saying the chance to advance his career and play in the UEFA Champions League made the move impossible to ignore.

The 22-year-old defender had spent years progressing through the Kaizer Chiefs development system before making his senior breakthrough. After only one season with the first team, he moved to the Azerbaijani club following what he considered a successful campaign with Amakhosi.

Sabah FK subsequently progressed through the qualification rounds to reach the UEFA Champions League, giving McCarthy the opportunity to compete in European football’s leading club competition.

‘It was for my future’

Speaking exclusively to Soccer Laduma, McCarthy said the transfer was not something he had expected at the start of his first senior season. However, once the opportunity became more concrete, he focused on what it could offer his long-term development.

“The opportunity came at the end of the season when I just finished playing my first season with the Chiefs first team.

“At the time, I never thought anything would really happen. I knew there were talks of this and that, but when I sat down to actually think about the situation and what all is at stake, I just thought about my future and the platform I’d be given, or rather put in front of me, if I were to make the move,” McCarthy told Soccer Laduma.

The defender insisted his departure was not the result of a desire to leave Kaizer Chiefs immediately after establishing himself in the senior side. Instead, he viewed the transfer as recognition for his performances and a chance to continue developing abroad.

“It’s not to say that I just wanted to finish the season and move on. But the opportunity came, the call was made, and it was literally for my own good, for my future. I feel like I deserved it because, I felt like I had a good season.

“It was kind of a reward to make the move out of the country, not only just to a random country elsewhere, but to play in the biggest tournament in European football, and that is Champions League. The Champions League dream was definitely there. We had to go through a lot of rounds of qualifications, but we made it. And this is where I find myself today.”

McCarthy said he has no regrets about leaving Naturena, although he believes his story with Kaizer Chiefs may not yet be complete.

“Looking back at it, I wouldn’t have changed anything. My story is probably still unwritten at Chiefs. You can’t tell the future. You never know what can happen. But this move was definitely for my personal career and for my growth as a player.”

Message to the Amakhosi supporters

McCarthy also acknowledged the emotional difficulty of leaving after building a relationship with the Kaizer Chiefs supporters.

“It’s a bittersweet moment because I can say sorry, but then at the same time, I must tell them to not move on, but stick with me through this journey that I’m going on personally.And being a Kaizer Chiefs development product, coming from the development age groups there at Naturena to the bigger stage in European football, I don’t think I would have much to say to them, but they need to, for Chiefs, keep believing anything is possible.”

Although he now plays in Azerbaijan, McCarthy remains aware of the support he receives from fans who continue to follow his progress.

“I know now they’re not in the best of situations, but the loyalty is definitely there. Their hearts are with the team. And for the many who are following me, I definitely notice everything, even though I don’t reply to or look at every single message or DM or whatever the case may be.But the engagement and the love is there, and it goes both ways. And I’ll never forget where I come from.”