In a massive financial and developmental win for the club, Kaizer Chiefs have officially confirmed the departure of rising star defender Aden McCarthy. The 22-year-old left-footed center-back has completed a permanent move to Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK, putting pen to paper on a lucrative three-year contract.
According to renowned football journalist Lorenz Köhler, the Soweto giants have secured a transfer fee exceeding R7 million, a figure that excludes performance-based add-ons which could see the final valuation rise significantly.
A Historic Leap to the UEFA Champions League
The move marks an extraordinary career milestone for the academy graduate. Because Sabah FK clinched the Azerbaijan league title last season, McCarthy is set to make a dramatic leap straight into the qualifying rounds of next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Amakhosi Sporting Director, Kaizer Motaung Jr., expressed immense pride in the transfer, viewing it as a massive endorsement of the club’s youth structures:
“We can confirm that we have agreed to release Aden after being approached by Sabah FK,” Motaung Jr. stated. “We are proud that he will compete in the qualifying round of next season’s UEFA Champions League. Aden will fly the Amakhosi flag high in Europe. We are excited to see him grow on the world stage.”
The Rise of a Second-Generation Glamour Boy
Football truly runs in the McCarthy bloodline. Aden is the son of legendary former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana defender Fabian McCarthy, making them the fifth father-and-son pairing to ever represent the Amakhosi senior first team.
Aden McCarthy’s Naturena Timeline:
- The Foundation: Joined the Kaizer Chiefs Academy at Naturena, rising rapidly through the ranks.
- The Leadership: Captained the reserve team in the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC).
- The Breakthrough: Made his senior first-team debut in May 2025 under the guidance of Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef.
- The Impact: Rack up 33 appearances across all competitions, netting 2 goals, and anchoring the defense to help Chiefs secure a 3rd-place finish in the Betway Premiership.
