Exclusive: Haashim Domingo a free agent as Downs talks breakdown

Domingo joined Downs three years ago along with teammates goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, and striker Gift Motupa when Bidvest Wits sold its Premier League status and the 2017 title winning squad dismantled. 

Initially, he put pen to paper on a deal that included a two-year option, but the deadline to trigger the clause lapsed at the end of last month. 

“We could not agree on new terms and I can confirm to you Haashim is a free agent as things stand,” his agent Lance Davids of Football First explained. 

“To be honest, he wanted to stay – he loves it there and has won three league titles since he joined Sundowns. But following a conversation with the sporting director, Mr Flemming Berg, we could not come to the same conclusion.”

Domingo, a former youth international now 27-years-old, is highly rated by coach Rulani Mokwena, so, in essence, he will be lost to an already star-studded team – and it’s expected he will be snapped up quickly with no transfer fee necessary.  

“We exhausted all our options with Sundowns because we want what is best for the player and we know how much the coach admires him considering his age and what the technical team is building there,” added Davids. 

With the transfer registration opening from 1 July, the player’s representatives will now begin looking for alternatives for Domingo, who made over 50 appearances for Sundowns, scoring five goals as well as adding six assists. 

Domingo has previously played for the famous Ajax Cape Town academy, then moved to Portugal and Norway before returning to South Africa to join serial winning coach Gavin Hunt at Wits. 

As is the nature of transfer movements, it is possible Sundowns could return to the negotiation table although as things stand talks have broken down and Domingo will be searching for a new club as a free agent.