Mamelodi Sundowns have agreed to sign midfielder Matias Esquivel from Club Atlético Lanús in a deal worth $2.5-million (R46.7m).
The Argentine had agreed personal terms last month, as reported by iDiski Times, while the two clubs negotiated on a transfer fee for the highly-rated talent.
It sent shockwaves in his homeland, with many expecting the player to potentially move to Europe after a standout campaign with the Primera División outfit as they finished fourth in the 28-team division.
iDiski Times understands the two clubs agreed terms early last week for the transfer fee and the deal will be confirmed with the player likely to arrive for their mid-season pre-season preparations during the Africa Cup of Nations.
It marks another major transfer for Sundowns from South America, having lured Marcello Allende to the club from Montevideo City Torque in a $3-million deal in August 2022.
The Chile international became an instant hit with the Brazilians who are now set to part ways with Erwin Saavedra, while Divine Lunga will also be registered as a South African and form part of the Masandawana first-team.
Lunga spent the last six months training with the squad but unregistered as Sundowns had their five foreign quota spots exhausted with Allende, Ribeiro Costa, Abdelmounaim Boutouil, Júnior Mendieta and Abubeker Nasir.
It remains to be seen who else will be sacrificed in order to register their latest foreigner with Mendieta and Nasir yet to become key figures in Rulani Mokwena’s first XI due to injuries.
Story by Lorenz Kohler (@Lorenz_KO).
