Orlando Pirates bring back South Africa winger Mohau Nkota from Al-Ettifaq

South Africa winger Mohau Nkota has returned to Orlando Pirates from Al-Ettifaq on loan, completing a move that brings the 21-year-old back to the club where he began his senior career.

Nkota joined the Saudi Pro League side from Pirates on a permanent transfer in July 2025 for €1.2m. After a year in Saudi Arabia, he now switches back to the Johannesburg club, with the loan scheduled to run until 30 June 2027.

The right winger made his senior breakthrough at Orlando Pirates after progressing through the club’s reserve structure. He joined Orlando Pirates Reserves from the club’s youth development side in February 2024 before moving into the first-team set-up in July of that year.

Nkota, who was born in Kimberley in South Africa’s Northern Cape, plays on the right side of attack and prefers his left foot. He stands at 1.67m and was part of the Pirates squad that won the MTN8 Cup in the 2024-25 season.

His return comes after a campaign in which he has yet to feature for Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League or the King’s Cup during the 2026-27 season. The move gives Pirates a familiar attacking option as Nkota resumes his association with the Betway Premiership club.

The player’s market value is listed at €700,000, following a previous high of €800,000. His latest spell at Orlando Pirates is recorded as a loan transfer, with the agreement due to end in June 2027.

Nkota’s professional path has so far been centred on Orlando Pirates and Al-Ettifaq. He first entered the Pirates reserve system in 2024, moved into the senior squad later that year and then completed his transfer to Saudi Arabia the following summer.

The loan places him back at Orlando Pirates after one season away, with the South African winger’s agreement at the club running until 30 June 2027.