Orlando Pirates star was once mentioned alongside Di Maria, Agüero, Benzema

Orlando Pirates striker Kermit Erasmus was the next big thing when he was a teenager. What happened?

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Kermit Erasmus used to be world-famous

World Soccer Magazine named Erasmus one of the 50 most talented young players in world football in a piece titled “The 50 most exciting teenagers on the planet” in 2007. That list included Karim Benzema, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, Gareth Bale and Alexandre Pato. Kermit has represented 11 clubs across five countries throughout his career. That’s impressive, in a way, but also indicates that he never quite settled and called one club home for an extended spell. His transfer value peaked in 2016 when he was with Rennes in France’s Ligue 1, and it’s been steady decline ever since.

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The current situation in a nutshell

Kermit Erasmus’ Bucs contract expires in June 2024. A source close to Soccer-Laduma reveals the club will decide on his future sooner rather than later but is leaning towards releasing the former Feyenoord, Rennes, Lens, Sundowns and SuperSport star. Overall, he’s made 117 appearances for Pirates in two stints, scoring 26 goals and supplying 19 assists. His career in South Africa includes three DStv Premiership crowns and a Nedbank Cup win. For a guy who was once mentioned in the same breath as future World Cup winner Di Maria, this is perhaps an underwhelming summary of his long career.

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South African story set for a new chapter?

The seasoned striker has spent stints in France, Portugal and the Netherlands before settling back into South African football in 2019. When he leaves Pirates at the end of the campaign, there won’t be a shortage of suitors to bring him on board. Where will he end up? There’s still plenty of value left in those old legs.

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