After another forgettable campaign that saw Kaizer Chiefs finish outside the Top 8, the club is wasting no time planning for a stronger 2025/2026 season.

Big changes are on the cards—and one position in particular is getting serious attention: right-back.

Amidst all the talk of squad revamps, 24-year-old defender Mhleli Mabuza is a name that keeps coming up.

The Soweto giants invited him to train with the first team at Naturena earlier this month, and while he didn’t leave with a contract in hand, he definitely left an impression.

Mabuza Gets His Trial Run but No Commitment Yet

Mabuza, a former KZN Academy talent who’s spent most of his professional career plying his trade in Portugal, was brought in for a closer look.

Sources close to the club confirmed he trained with the team—but that’s as far as things have gone for now.

“He had a good run in training, but nothing’s been finalized,” one insider said.

“The club’s still keeping its options open.”

Chiefs Still Not Sold on Their Current Right-Backs

It’s no secret the right-back spot has been a bit of a problem area for Chiefs. Both Reeve Frosler and Dillan Solomons struggled to stay consistent last season, battling injuries and form issues.

The technical team knows they need reinforcements—and that’s why someone like Mabuza, with European experience and availability, is under serious consideration.

Mabuza Still in the Picture as Nabi Weighs In

Even though a deal wasn’t done immediately, Mabuza hasn’t been ruled out.

The club is expected to revisit his case once newly appointed coach Nasreddine Nabi has had more time to assess the squad and lock in his strategy.

“The door isn’t closed,” the source added.

“It’s more of a ‘wait and see’ situation right now.”

The Right-Back Hunt Continues

Kaizer Chiefs are clearly making the right-back role a top priority in the upcoming transfer window.

Whether Mabuza gets the call or someone else steps in, one thing’s for sure—Amakhosi are determined to fix what’s been broken and finally get back to competing at the top.

So what’s next? Chiefs fans will be watching closely as the transfer window heats up.

And Mabuza? He’s still very much in the mix.