Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed the departure of midfielder Sabelo “Bibo” Radebe, marking the first notable squad change for the Soweto giants.
The club made the announcement on Thursday, just weeks after Radebe returned to Naturena from an underwhelming loan stint at Richards Bay FC, which was cut short earlier than scheduled. The 25-year-old joined the KwaZulu-Natal outfit in September 2024 with an agreement to stay for the full season, but managed only three appearances before the loan was ended prematurely in April.
Radebe had been viewed as one of Chiefs’ more promising academy graduates in recent years. He rose through the club’s youth structures and was promoted to the first team in the 2020/21 season after impressing in the Diski Challenge, under then-coach Gavin Hunt.
“Kaizer Chiefs have officially parted ways with attacking midfielder, Sabelo ‘Bibo’ Radebe,” the club said in a statement.
“Radebe, now 25, joined Amakhosi as a teenager and progressed through the junior ranks in the Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development Academy before moving up to the reserve team in the 2017/18 season. We wish ‘Bibo’ all the best in his future endeavours.”
During his time with Amakhosi, Radebe made 18 senior appearances, scoring one goal and registering one assist. However, his progression stalled amid fierce competition for places in the Chiefs’ midfield, and the recent loan spell failed to reignite his trajectory.
Radebe was part of a group of highly rated young players promoted in 2021, alongside the likes of Lebohang Lesako, Darrel Matsheke, and Keletso Sifama – all of whom were seen as part of a new wave of talent at Naturena.
His exit comes at a time when Chiefs are expected to undergo significant restructuring following a disappointing 2024/25 season. The club is yet to announce its new permanent head coach and is widely expected to make several squad adjustments in the coming weeks.
Radebe now becomes a free agent, with the chance to restart his career elsewhere in the Betway Premiership or beyond.