Kaizer Chiefs Secure Rising Star Aden McCarthy on Long-Term Deal Amid Growing European Interest

Kaizer Chiefs are taking bold steps to retain one of their most promising young defenders, 21-year-old Aden McCarthy, as the club moves to avoid repeating past mistakes that saw top academy talents slip away. According to insiders close to the club, McCarthy has been offered a new three-year senior team contract that will keep him at Naturena until at least June 2028.

This move comes after McCarthy made his senior debut toward the end of the 2024/25 season, having spent most of the campaign playing for Chiefs’ DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) side under a youth contract.

“Yes, he was training with the senior team for some time but he was still a DDC registered player. That’s why most of his games were in the DDC,” a club insider explained to Soccer Laduma. “Now he has been offered a three-year senior team contract which will run from July this year until June 2028. It’s believed coach Nasreddine Nabi wants to use him more next season as the team reshapes the defence.”

The new deal is not only a statement of trust in McCarthy’s abilities but also a strategic move by Chiefs to retain control over a player who is already attracting attention beyond South African borders.

A second source revealed that McCarthy’s recent trial stint in Moldova may still bear fruit. “Yes, that opportunity is still on the table. The European club just wanted him to play more regularly at a high level. Now that he’s made his Chiefs debut and played for Bafana Bafana at the COSAFA Cup, his chances of securing a move have improved. With the three-year contract, Chiefs will be in a good position to benefit financially if he does go abroad.”

Aden McCarthy, the son of former Amakhosi defender Fabian McCarthy, has already donned the national colours at U20 and U23 level, and most recently featured in South Africa’s COSAFA Cup campaign in Bloemfontein, helping the team reach the semi-finals.

The decision to offer a long-term deal signals a shift in approach at Naturena, where the club has faced criticism in recent years for losing young talent such as Omega Mdaka and Puso Dithejane. With McCarthy, the management appears determined not to let another homegrown star walk away too soon.

While Kaizer Chiefs did not officially comment on the signing at the time of publication, the deal is seen as a major win for the club’s development system — and a vote of confidence in the future of a player many believe could soon follow his father’s legacy, both in the PSL and beyond.

As Chiefs prepare for a new chapter under coach Nabi, the retention and elevation of young talents like Aden McCarthy may be the foundation for rebuilding the club’s identity and long-term competitiveness, both locally and continentally.