Relegation-threatened Cape Town City confirm interest from English Premier League club in former Kaizer Chiefs academy trialist Emile Witbooi

Cape Town City attacking midfielder Emile Witbooi has been invited for another assessment at Premier League giants Chelsea FC ahead of the 2025/26 season.

This is after the 16-year-old spent four weeks training with the Stamford Bridge side in November 2024.

It has now been reported that Chelsea want him to play for their Under-18 side and have been closely monitoring him since he came back to South Africa.

City chairman John Comitis, however, said no deal has been tabled as yet.

"The interest is there, but there is no final deal on the table yet," Comitis told Soccer Laduma.

Witbooi, who is the son of former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Surprise Ralani, is regarded as a future prospect in South African football.

If signed by Chelsea, the former Kaizer Chiefs academy trialist would be pushing for first-team football and illuminate the Premier League the way the likes of Benni McCarthy, Lucas Radebe, Steven Pienaar and Shaun Bartlett did.

A move to Europe would also help Amajimbos have a highly-regarded player at the 2025 Fifa Under-17 World Cup finals in Qatar in November if he manages to go to the global tournament.

The next few months are going to be a defining moment for Witbooi, who made four Premier Soccer League appearances for City in the just-ended season.

His career could take a major turn should he sign for the Blues.