Orlando Pirates will look back at their handling of Lyle Foster’s transfer in 2019 with a great deal of regret. The Soweto giants parted ways with the talented forward far too early—and for far too little. Foster’s journey from South Africa to the top tier of English football has been impressive, but it also highlights a costly mistake by his former club.
A Costly Misjudgment
In the summer of 2019, Orlando Pirates sold a then-teenage Lyle Foster to French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco for a modest fee of €1.2 million (around R20 million at the time). On paper, it seemed like a step forward for the player’s development. But in hindsight, the Buccaneers drastically undervalued their asset.
Fast forward to January 2023, and Foster secured a move to English side Burnley for an initial fee of €7 million (roughly R140 million), with an additional €4 million (R80 million) in performance-related bonuses. That transfer eventually amounted to a massive R225 million when Burnley clinched promotion to the English Premier League.
This begs the question—could Orlando Pirates have negotiated a better deal or at the very least protected their financial interests with a sell-on clause?
The Missed Sell-On Clause
In the modern football transfer market, sell-on clauses have become a strategic norm, especially for clubs developing young talent. Such clauses typically range from 10% to 20%, ensuring that clubs benefit if the player’s value skyrockets.
Had Pirates inserted a 20% sell-on clause into Foster’s Monaco deal, they could have pocketed up to R46.4 million from his Burnley transfer—a significant sum by any standard. Instead, they walked away from the entire situation with just the initial €1.2 million, leaving tens of millions on the table.
A Star on the Rise
Foster didn’t just earn Burnley a promotion—he played a vital role. In the 2023-2024 Premier League season, he netted five goals and provided three assists in 24 appearances, 22 of which were starts. For a player in a team battling relegation, those numbers are impressive. He continued to impress in the 2024-2025 Championship season under new manager Scott Parker, with two goals and five assists in 27 matches, helping Burnley bounce back into the top flight.
Now, with Burnley preparing for another Premier League campaign, Foster’s name is again being linked with potential suitors. If a transfer around the €13 million (R280 million) mark materializes, it will only further underscore what Pirates missed out on.
A Warning Shot: Don’t Repeat the Mistake with Mofokeng
The situation with Lyle Foster should serve as a wake-up call for the Orlando Pirates hierarchy, especially with rising star Relebohile Mofokeng. The teenage sensation has featured 41 times across all competitions in the 2024-2025 season, scoring 10 goals and notching 13 assists. His influence has been immense, and he’s already attracting interest from abroad.
Pirates cannot afford to mismanage Mofokeng’s inevitable transfer. Whether through a higher initial fee or protective clauses like sell-ons and performance bonuses, the club must ensure it’s adequately compensated. Failing to do so could once again cost them millions.
The Lyle Foster saga is a painful lesson in the business of football. While it’s easy to celebrate a player’s success abroad, clubs must ensure their financial interests are protected, especially when dealing with young, high-potential talent. Orlando Pirates paid the price once—R46.4 million to be exact. They cannot afford to let history repeat itself.
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