by Agnes Amondi

Spanish club SD Eibar has acquired the services of Thembi Kgatlana from Portuguese Liga BPI side SL Benfica for the 2020-21 season.

Kgatlana parted ways with Benfica last week and moved on to Spain on a free transfer, after abruptly ending her two-and-half-year deal with the Portuguese side.

“Thembi Kgatlana has become the latest reinforcement of the Eibar Sports Society women’s first team,” read the statement on the club’s website.

“The 24-year-old South African forward is an international for her country and in 2018 she was considered the best African player.”

The 2018 African Women’s Footballer of the Year has taken her next step in Europe with the newly promoted Primera Iberdrola side as he meteoric rise continues, having first moved abroad in 2018 with Houston Dash.

Her form in the United States and in the 2018 African Women’s Nations Cup earned her a switch to China with Beijing BG Phoenix along with national teammate Linda Motlhalo before her move to Portugal in January.

Widely considered as one of South Africa’s most talented footballers at present, her transfer to Eibar marks a significant step in the career of Banyana’s attacking talisman.

During her short spell in Portugal, she only made three appearances for Luis Andrade’s team, scoring three goals and powered them to the Portuguese Taca de liga final and league diadem.

She has played for Houston Dash in the American league, Beijing BG Phoenix in the Chinese league, and Portuguese team Benfica.