Chicago Fire FC has officially announced the signing of South African defender, Mbekezeli Mbokazi from Orlando Pirates.
The 20-year-old from Hluhluwe, KZN, popularly known as TLB, will fill a u-22 initiative slot and an international roster position at the MLS club.
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His contract runs through 2029, with a club option for the 2029/30 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Chicago Fire FC head coach, Gregg Berhalter stated that they are excited to welcome TLB.
“We are excited to welcome Mbekezeli to the club as we further strengthen our back line.”
“In his young career, he has already shown high potential and proven himself to be a strong leader and competitor on the international level. We expect immediate impact and room to grow in the future,” he stated.
Mbokazi’s rise has been rapid. After starting in the DStv Diski Challenge with several commanding performances, he earned a first-team breakthrough under former head coach, Jose Rivieiro and has not looked back since, cementing his place in the starting line-up for club and country.
The talented defender has already made his mark on the international stage.
Having won the U-20 COSAFA Cup, which qualified South Africa for the Africa Cup of Nations, Mbokazi then took no further part at the youth level as he was recognised as a senior national team player by coach Hugo Broos.
He has made five caps for Bafana Bafana and was called up for FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.
Domestically, Mbokazi has played 37 matches for Pirates, featuring in the Betway Premiership, CAF Champions League, MTN 8, Carling Knockout and Nedbank Cup.
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He also helped Orlando Pirates defend their MTN 8 title in 2025/26 with a 3-0 win over Stellenbosch.
With this deal, Chicago Fire have acted swiftly to secure one of the brightest talents in African football on a lucrative long-term contract, marking a record sale for the Buccaneers.
