Nkosingiphile Cele Left Behind as Chiefs Tour Spain

Nkosingiphile Cele’s pre-season took a sharp and unexpected turn before Kaizer Chiefs even boarded the plane.

The 28-year-old midfielder, who had been involved throughout Amakhosi’s preparations for the 2026/27 campaign, was a notable omission from the squad that travelled to Spain under new coach Fernando Da Cruz. He only discovered he would not be on the flight shortly before the team’s departure, despite having every reason to believe he was part of the travelling group.

For a player once hailed as a marquee return to the Premier Soccer League, the timing is striking. Chiefs chased Cele across several transfer windows before finally landing him in January last year, bringing him home after a lengthy spell abroad. His arrival at Naturena carried the weight of a long-term project and the expectation that he would anchor the midfield in a new era.

Now that project hangs in the balance.

Behind the scenes, sensitive talks are underway over a possible settlement that could see club and player cut ties well before the end of his current deal. Cele still has two years left on his contract, and any early parting would require careful negotiation. Those conversations are ongoing and delicate, with no agreement yet in place.

Cele, for his part, is not prepared to be forced out on the club’s terms alone. If the talks fail to produce a deal that respects his position, he is understood to be ready to stay at Naturena and see out his contract rather than accept unfavourable conditions this month.

Chiefs are weighing their options. A loan move is on the table. So is a permanent transfer. But any exit route must satisfy all three sides of the equation: the club, the player, and the buying team. Until that alignment is found, nothing moves.

So the squad trains in Spain. Cele stays behind, his future unresolved.

As the transfer window gathers pace, further discussions are expected. Unless a solution emerges that works for everyone, Chiefs may start the new season with a high-profile midfielder still on their books, watching the market and waiting for the right door to open.