South African centre-back Malibongwe Khoza of Sundowns is being linked with a move to Austrian side SV Ried, with the 22-year-old defender’s future under scrutiny as uncertainty persists over his contract situation in Pretoria.
Khoza, who stands at 1.91m and is valued at €850,000 on Transfermarkt, has emerged as a potential target for Ried, who compete in Austria’s Bundesliga. The mooted switch from the Betway Premiership comes with the reported probability of the transfer still listed as “?” and no confirmation yet over whether he could be available as a free agent, with his contract expiry at Sundowns not publicly detailed.
Born on 16 March 2004 in Mamelodi, Gauteng, Khoza has progressed through the ranks at Mamelodi Sundowns FC and now wears the No 2 shirt for the club. Primarily a defender at centre-back, he has been developed almost exclusively within the Sundowns system, with no previous senior clubs listed in his career history.
Recent performances in South Africa’s top flight have underlined why European interest may be growing. In a recent Betway Premiership fixture for Sundowns against domestic rivals on 20 June 2026 – a match that finished 1-0, with Sundowns keeping a clean sheet – Khoza turned in a solid defensive display, contributing to a disciplined back line as he continued to build senior minutes and experience at the heart of defence.
With no official bid disclosed and his contractual end date unspecified, there remains scope for speculation that his next move could involve a free transfer scenario if terms are not renewed in Pretoria. For Ried, a deal around his €850k valuation would represent a relatively low-cost gamble on a tall, developing centre-half accustomed to top-flight football in South Africa.
Should the move materialise, a step into the Austrian Bundesliga could prove a defining stage in Khoza’s career, offering a first foothold in European football and a fresh platform to enhance both his reputation and long-term potential.
