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Wydad Close to Permanent Deal for Thembinkosi Lorch

Wydad Close to Permanent Deal for Thembinkosi Lorch

Morocco World04-07-2025
Wydad Casablanca is set to sign South African winger Thembinkosi Lorch permanently, following his strong performance during the FIFA Club World Cup.
Lorch, 31, moved to Wydad on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns during the January transfer window. The deal included a $500,000 option to buy, but Sundowns have since doubled the value to reach one million dollars after his impressive performances in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The winger made 16 appearances for Wydad during last season, scoring three goals: two goals in Botola Pro and the third one in the Club World Cup.
With fellow Sundowns loanee Cassius Mailula not retained over financial concerns, Wydad are pushing to keep Lorch, despite ongoing budget constraints.
The proposed move has stirred debate among supporters, with some raising concerns over the cost and the player's age. 'If the club signs Lorch for two years, he'll be 33—how effective can a winger be at that age?' one fan wrote on Facebook. Another added: 'If the transfer fee is €1 million, what kind of wages will they be offering him?'
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