Thembinkosi Lorch’s lucrative Al Ittihad contract blocks Morocco return

Thembinkosi Lorch’s desire to return to Morocco is being frustrated by the lucrative contract he signed with Al Ittihad Tripoli, with interested clubs unable to match his current salary.

The 33-year-old forward is keen to go back to the country where he revived his career, but the financial terms of his agreement in Libya have created a major obstacle to any transfer.

Al Ittihad paid Wydad Casablanca US$1.5m (approximately R24m) to sign Lorch in January this year. Reports at the time indicated that the South African could earn more than US$3m (about R186m) over the two-and-a-half-year contract.

The deal appeared to represent a significant financial reward for a player entering the later stages of his career. However, Lorch’s circumstances have changed since the move, particularly after the departure of the coach who played a central role in bringing him to Libya.

Lorch initially moved to Wydad Casablanca on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2025. The transfer reunited him with Rulani Mokwena, his former coach at Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, at the Moroccan club.

Although Mokwena left Wydad in April 2025, Lorch had done enough to convince the club to make his move permanent. Wydad completed that deal in August.

The decision appeared justified by the player’s performances. Lorch made a strong impression at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, scoring a memorable goal during Wydad’s 4-1 defeat by Italian giants Juventus.

He continued to produce impressive numbers after the tournament, scoring five goals and providing four assists in 11 appearances in all competitions. That form led to calls for his selection in Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.

Lorch’s excellent run was a key factor in Al Ittihad’s decision to invest heavily in him.

But Mokwena resigned only months after joining the Libyan club. He is now in charge of Pyramids FC in Egypt, leaving Lorch without the manager who had helped bring him to Al Ittihad in the first place.

Since Mokwena’s departure, Lorch has made it clear that he would prefer to return to Morocco. Both MAS Fes and Wydad Athletic have shown interest in signing him, offering a possible route back to the competition where he rediscovered his best form.

The problem is that neither club appears able to replicate his salary in Libya. Moroccan clubs are reluctant to commit such a large portion of their budgets to a 33-year-old player, even though Lorch’s recent performances have demonstrated his ability to make an impact.

His current wages have therefore placed him beyond the reach of the clubs interested in bringing him back.

Lorch now faces a difficult decision. He can remain at Al Ittihad and continue collecting the substantial income provided by his contract while playing for a club he wants to leave. Alternatively, he can pursue a return to Morocco, but only by accepting a significant reduction in his earnings.

With 20 months still left on his contract, there is no straightforward solution for either Lorch or Al Ittihad. The player’s form has attracted interest, but his salary remains the barrier preventing a move.