Orlando Pirates agree deal for Stellenbosch FC captain

The Buccaneers had to submit a revised offer after their initial bid for the 27-year-old right back was first rejected.

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What now remains is a medical as well as an official announcement from the parties involved to confirm the negotiations have been concluded.

It’s understood the player had expressed an interest to leave and test himself elsewhere after eight years at Stellies, and perhaps his exit was imminent when coach Steve Barker left Van Rooyen on the bench against TS Galaxy.

The defender did eventually come on as a late substitute with five minutes remaining and the job already done as the side from the Winelands thrashed The Rockets 3-1 to progress to the semifinals of the MTN8.

Following the win, Barker was asked whether he’d left his captain on the bench in anticipation of the move, but the coach denied this.

“No, he’s had a bit of niggle the last couple of days – so it was a little more precautionary, plus also the conditions of the pitch. We’ve always said we want to keep our best players as we feel we are a team that can challenge for honours in the league – and our intention is to work as hard as we can to make sure we retain our squad,” he explained.

But the public broadcaster can reveal that Van Rooyen is now expected to move to Gauteng and join The Buccaneers after Stellies agreed to the second bid believed to have been submitted this week to get talks over the line.