Most Valuable South African Players 2026: Top 10 by Transfermarkt Value

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Published 3 October 2026. Values are Transfermarkt estimates from its early October 2026 update.

The most valuable South African players are led by two young centre-backs in Transfermarkt’s latest update. Mbekezeli Mbokazi of Chicago Fire and Olwethu Makhanya of Rangers are both valued at €8 million, ahead of Burnley striker Lyle Foster on €7 million. The other seven players on the list, valued at around €3 million each, include five from Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns and two defenders based in Europe.

The Most Valuable South African Players, Ranked

Here is the full top 10 with each player’s age, club and position. Transfermarkt’s own graphic shows positions 4 to 10 at €3 million each, so the order inside that group is tight and could shuffle at the next update.

The Top Three Explained

Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire, 21)

The centre-back leads the list on €8 million. At 21 he is the youngest of the top three, and his valuation reflects how quickly he has developed. He was part of South Africa’s World Cup 2026 squad.

Olwethu Makhanya (Rangers, 22)

Makhanya joined Rangers from Philadelphia Union in July for a reported £3 million. Transfermarkt has since lifted his estimated value from €2 million to €8 million, the biggest rise among Scottish Premiership players in that update. Other models go higher still. The CIES Football Observatory, which uses a statistical model built on match performance, age profile and contract length, has put him at around £12 million. That gap is a reminder that “market value” depends on who is doing the counting.

Lyle Foster (Burnley, 26)

Foster moved to Burnley from Westerlo for a reported R131 million, which GOAL describes as the most expensive South African footballer of all time. His €7 million Transfermarkt value today is well below the €13 million KickOff reported for him in October 2023, which shows that these numbers move down as well as up.

Positions 4 to 10

Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates, 21) heads the next group, followed by Hannover 96 defender Ime Okon (22), Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena (29), Sundowns forward Iqraam Rayners (30), Molde defender Samukele Kabini (22), Orlando Pirates forward Oswin Appollis (25) and Sundowns attacker Tashreeq Matthews (26).

Matthews is the newest face on the list. He is the only one of the ten who was not in the World Cup squad, and he has since received a call-up to the national team under coach Pitso Mosimane.

What Stands Out in the Top 10

• Defenders lead the way: four of the ten are defenders (Mbokazi, Makhanya, Okon and Kabini).
• Half of the list plays at home: five players are in the Betway Premiership, three at Mamelodi Sundowns and two at Orlando Pirates. The other five play in the United States, Scotland, England, Germany and Norway.
• Youth counts: five of the ten are 22 or younger, while Mokoena (29) and Rayners (30) are the two oldest.
• Most are national team regulars: nine of the ten were in South Africa’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. Matthews is the exception.

What Market Value Does and Does Not Tell You

Transfermarkt values are estimates built from factors such as age, contract length, performances and demand. They are not prices anyone has paid. A player can move for far more or far less than his listed value, and the figure can change several times a year.

For bettors, the list says very little about match odds or player markets. A highly valued centre-back is no more likely to score or keep a clean sheet this weekend than anyone else. Treat the rankings as context for the transfer market, not as a betting tip. If you follow the national side, our AFCON 2027 qualifiers guide covers the fixtures, and our guide to the best PSL betting markets explains what is on offer for Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns matches. You can compare licensed operators on our best sports betting sites in South Africa hub.