Transfers: Orlando Pirates’ best and worst signings this winter

Orlando Pirates have done extensive business as they look to defend their Betway Premiership crown. Which deals go down as their best and worst?

Orlando Pirates’ best business

Gamphani Lungu went off on a stretcher during the 4-0 win against Kruger United, which is a blow for the Buccaneers. The Zambian winger has four goals and two assists from five Betway Premiership appearances this term. Pirates can ill-afford Lungu to be out for a prolonged period. Signed from Siwelele, this already looks like a shrewd piece of business. If the board can resist offers for Oswin Appollis, they’ll be firm favourites to retain their title.

Notable mention: Mohau Nkota has returned on loan.

Worst Orlando Pirates signing, the Temu Erling Haaland?

Pedersen arrives with an impressive pedigree. The striker represented Norway at every junior international level from Under-15 through to Under-21.

Across the last four-and-a-half seasons with Sogndal and Moss FK, he scored 51 goals and supplied eight assists in 117 appearances. For Pirates, the 27-year-old ‘Temu Haaland’ has managed two substitute appearances, one against Sekhukhune in the MTN8 and one against the same opponents in the league. No goals and no assists in a Pirates jersey.

The Pirates academy is churning out talent and making money

Scintillating form in the 2025-26 season earned Relebohile Mofokeng a high-profile move to Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise. He followed Mohau Nkota and Mbekezeli Mbokazi out of the club, although Nkota has ironically returned on loan. The Pirates academy has churned out some gems and earned big money from their sales. Mofokeng scored 10 goals and assisted eight times in 27 league outings last term. For Union SG, he’s got two goals in four Jupiter Pro League outings in 2026-27, and he also scored the clinching penalty in a shootout win over Club Brugge in the Belgian Super Cup final in July. Bafana legend Shaun Bartlett expects Mofokeng’s stay in Belgium to be short.