Bafana Bafana midfielder Luke Le Roux has secured a transfer to English Championship outfit Portsmouth FC from Swedish top-flight side Varnamo.
Le Roux, 25, has made a move from the Allsvenskan side to the English second-tier outfit where he now joins compatriot Tylon Smith, who was unveiled by domestic rivals Queens Park Rangers this week.
Both former Stellenbosch development players, Le Roux has been in Europe for the past five years since leaving SuperSport United for Varbergs BoIS and while had one season in the Netherlands with FC Volendam before returning to Sweden with Varnamo.
As one of the standout midfielders in the division, interest was always bubbling around the South Africa international and a move to Hammarby was mooted earlier this season but fell through as the two club’s could not agree on terms.
However, Pompey, the former club of Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena, has now secured his services on a three-year deal with an option to extend just weeks before the start of the new season in England.
“All of us at Centre Circle are happy to have assisted all the parties to move Luke to the Championship,” Le Roux’s agency Centre Circle CEO, Matthew Moore tells iDiski Times.
“It’s been the culmination of a number of months’ work and Luke is really looking forward to the challenge. We are sure he’ll shine in the Championship alongside our other client, Tylon Smith, and will fly the flag proudly for South Africa.
“Back in the day my father, Rob Moore, moved Aaron Mokoena to Portsmouth so it’s great have bought another South African to Pompey.”
Le Roux has been capped nine times in the South Africa senior national team since making his debut under Hugo Broos three years ago.