Iqraam Rayners Shines at Sundowns as Market Value Skyrockets After Dream First Season

Iqraam Rayners could not have scripted a better debut season at Mamelodi Sundowns. Less than a year since making the switch to Chloorkop, the 29-year-old forward has firmly established himself as one of the most dangerous attackers in South African football — and a key figure in Sundowns’ growing continental dominance.

Rayners joined the reigning DStv Premiership champions at the end of August last year after the buy-out clause in his contract was activated. The move raised some eyebrows at the time, with questions about whether he could step up to Sundowns’ elite standards. Fast-forward 10 months, and those doubts have been completely erased.

The stats speak volumes. Rayners scored 14 goals in 26 league appearances — a remarkable return that places him among the most efficient finishers in the league. But his impact stretched far beyond domestic competition. He found the net in the finals of both the CAF Champions League and the Carling Knockout, further underlining his ability to deliver on the biggest stages.

At the FIFA Club World Cup, Rayners made history by scoring Sundowns’ first-ever goal at the tournament — a match-winner against Ulsan HD. He followed that up with another strike in their high-scoring 4-3 loss to German giants Borussia Dortmund, finishing the tournament with two goals from three appearances.

In total, Rayners played 3,238 minutes across 46 matches in all competitions, contributing 24 goals and 9 assists. That equates to a direct goal involvement every 98 minutes — a level of productivity that puts him in a rare bracket, not just in South Africa, but across the continent.

As expected, his transfer value has surged. With clubs starting to circle, insiders suggest it would take more than R25 million to prise him away from Sundowns — more than double what the club paid to bring him back to Gauteng following his stint with SuperSport United.

His rapid rise has also translated into financial gains off the field, with his contract at Sundowns reportedly placing him among the club’s better-paid players.

With one season under his belt and already so much achieved, Rayners looks set to become a central figure in Sundowns’ continued pursuit of domestic and continental dominance. For now, the only certainty is that his star continues to rise — and the rest of the continent is watching.