Iqraam Rayners has joined Mamelodi Sundowns on a permanent transfer after a buy-out clause in his contract was triggered.

Stellenbosch Football Club has bid farewell to Iqraam Rayners after Mamelodi Sundowns triggered a buy-out clause in his contract.

The 28-year-old departs as the Club’s all-time record goalscorer after netting 68 times in 135 appearances across two spells in the Cape Winelands.

Rayners previously represented Stellenbosch between 2017 and 2020, helping the team win promotion to the South African top-flight, before returning to the Club in January 2023 where he played a key role in the triumphant Carling Knockout campaign last year.

“We are proud of how we as a club helped reignite Iqraam’s career and for providing him the platform to become a full international with Bafana Bafana,” Stellenbosch FC CEO Rob Benadie said.

“Since re-joining Stellenbosch, Iqraam has developed into one of the country’s leading strikers and his goalscoring return played a massive role in our recent success.

“We have the utmost gratitude for his immense contributions and wish him all the best as he embarks on this next chapter of his career.”

During his second spell in Stellenbosch, Rayners was named 2023 Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament, and was nominated for DStv Premiership Footballer of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards, as well as the Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament accolade last season.