Kaizer Chiefs midfielder and captain Yusuf Maart looks set to join Austrian top-flight newcomers SV Ried, with the club’s CEO Wolfgang Fiala confirming that the move is in its final stages.
“Yes, it looks good. We just need to finalise a few details, which we can hopefully sort out quickly,” Fiala told OÖNachrichten, offering the clearest indication yet that the deal will go through.
Maart skips Chiefs’ Dutch camp
Maart, 29, has not joined Chiefs on their pre-season tour to the Netherlands. Instead, he is expected to arrive in Austria shortly to complete the switch. SV Ried, the new home of former Stellenbosch FC winger Antonio Van Wyk, have prioritised Maart as a key signing to strengthen their squad following promotion to the Austrian Bundesliga.
Visa plans in place for Austrian adventure
According to OÖNachrichten, Maart will enter Austria on a tourism visa and then apply for the “red-white-red” card, which permits foreign nationals to live and work in the country. The process is common for international footballers signing with Austrian clubs.
During his time with Amakhosi, Maart made 95 appearances, netted seven goals, and provided eight assists. His standout moment came in the Nedbank Cup final, where he scored the decisive goal to seal a historic victory over Orlando Pirates. Which ended a painful 10-year trophy drought for Chiefs.
European dream comes calling
The looming transfer marks a major chapter in Maart’s career, as he prepares to test himself in Europe for the first time. Chiefs fans will no doubt watch with interest as their former captain steps onto a new stage. Carrying memories of his leadership and clutch performances in gold and black.
Will the Kaizer Chiefs captain thrive in Austria?
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