Why MLS and European clubs are targeting South Africa’s PSL talent

Major League Soccer and European clubs are increasingly looking to South Africa for new talent after a global data analysis ranked the Premier Soccer League among the world’s most physically demanding competitions.

Research by SkillCorner, covering 41 leagues and competitions, placed the PSL 11th worldwide for physicality. It ranked above MLS, which was 13th, and just outside Europe’s top 10.

The findings offer statistical support for the growing interest in South African players, particularly from clubs in the United States. According to the CIES Atlas of Migration, the US was the most common destination for South African players as of May 2026.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s move from Orlando Pirates to Chicago Fire in December 2025 is regarded as an early example of a talent pathway that could become increasingly important for MLS clubs.

Chicago Fire Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter told SkillCorner that the South African market had the potential to become a major source of players for the league.

“I think South Africa is going to become a real pipeline for MLS, and I don’t think that’s a stretch. The PSL has genuine quality, and South Africa stands out across Sub-Saharan Africa because of the availability of player data. That gives clubs like ours much greater confidence in evaluating players before they ever step foot in Chicago.”

PSL’s physical strengths

SkillCorner’s analysis found that the PSL was one of only three leagues in the world to receive an S-tier rating for Explosiveness. The English Premier League and Swiss Super League were the other two competitions to reach that level.

The company’s Physicality Matrix assesses five areas: Coverage, Agility, Speed, Explosiveness and Intensity.

South Africa’s top-flight competition ranked first globally for High Accelerations and Decelerations. Only the Premier League recorded a higher output than the PSL for Explosive Accelerations to High-Speed Running.

Berhalter said Mbokazi had impressed Chicago Fire with more than his athletic qualities, while Puso Dithejane offered a different type of profile.

“With Mbokazi, what stood out wasn’t just his physical attributesit was his composure on the ball and his ability to read the game a step ahead of most centre-backs his age. Puso [Dithejane] brings a different profile. He has real technical quality, is comfortable in tight spaces, and fits the way we want to play.”

Several other PSL players were identified by the analysis as potential candidates for moves overseas.

They include Lamontville Golden Arrows defender Ntandoyenkosi Mabaso, who is nicknamed the Beast, and Siwelele FC wide forward Sphesihle Jeza. Born in 2006, Jeza ranked in the top percentile across several metrics measuring his ability to receive possession and create danger while under intense pressure.

Interest from Europe

The PSL’s relative financial accessibility has also drawn attention from clubs outside the US.

Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise signed Relebohile Mofokeng from Orlando Pirates for a South African record fee of €3.5 million (R65 million) this summer. RSC Charleroi also recruited Golden Arrows teenager Isaac Ismael.

Interest has extended to Scandinavia, where FC Copenhagen agreed a €1.5 million (R27 million) deal to sign Bafana Bafana midfielder Thapelo Maseko from Mamelodi Sundowns.

The SkillCorner data suggests that the PSL combines elite explosiveness with technical quality, helping explain why clubs are increasingly willing to look towards South Africa.

Scouts had already identified the depth of talent in the country, but the analysis provides a broader statistical picture of the league’s player pool. South African football now appears to be approaching a significant increase in the number of players moving to major leagues abroad.