CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA — The ongoing exodus of elite South African talent to Europe has found its latest rising star. Cape Town City FC have officially confirmed that dynamic 23-year-old academy graduate Jaedin Rhodes has completed a permanent transfer to Austrian Bundesliga outfit SV Ried.
The Citizens released a statement confirming that an agreement had been reached on Wednesday, drawing a curtain on Rhodes’ long-standing affiliation with the Western Cape side.
Bridging the PSL Connection in Austria
In a fascinating twist of transfer-market geometry, Rhodes’ arrival at SV Ried is directly linked to major domestic movements back home. The Atlantis-born winger arrives in Austria as a direct tactical replacement for Antonio Van Wyk, who recently vacated his spot at Ried to complete a blockbuster move to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Furthermore, Rhodes will immediately feel at home in Upper Austria. He is set to link up with fellow Atlantis homeboy and former Kaizer Chiefs midfield general Yusuf Maart, who is already anchoring the midfield for the European outfit.
The Rhodes Record: By The Numbers
Rhodes leaves the Mother City as one of the finest success stories of Eric Tinkler’s development pipeline:
- Total Appearances: 93 matches across all competitions in the blue and gold.
- Direct Goal Output: 9 goals scored, 4 assists provided.
- Senior Debut: April 2022 against Kaizer Chiefs.
- International Pedigree: Earned his senior Bafana Bafana debut at the 2024 COSAFA Cup.
A New Era in the Mother City
Rhodes’ departure coincides with a massive structural reset at Cape Town City FC. After a disappointing campaign that saw them miss out on immediate promotion back to the Betway Premiership, the club is preparing for another grueling stint in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Management has already installed Dutch tactician Andries Ulderink as the new head coach to replace Jan Vreman. While losing Rhodes is a massive blow to Ulderink’s tactical blueprint, the multi-million rand transfer fee provides the Citizens with a massive war chest to rebuild their roster for a definitive promotional push.
