Defender Ismail Toure of Stellenbosch remains uncertain about his future with the club.

Toure has stated that he has one year left on his contract with Stellies, which is due to expire at the end of the 2026 season.

The 26-year-old defender was linked with transfers to both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates during the off-season. However, transfer negotiations fell through due to foreign quota restrictions at both clubs.

The unsuccessful transfer attempts seem to have affected Toure’s mindset, as he was initially left out of the squad for the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round match against Nsingizini Hotspurs at the season’s start. Coach Steve Barker indicated that Toure’s desire to play in Europe was the reason for his exclusion.

Stellenbosch’s CEO, Rob Benadie, acknowledged Toure’s goal of playing overseas, confirming that transfers to either Chiefs or Pirates were not practical.

When asked about his future, Toure told Sportswire, “I have one more year left on my contract with Stellenbosch.”

His limited English proficiency made it difficult to provide clear answers.

Regarding his long-term plans, including a potential move to one of the “Big Three” clubs, Toure reiterated his commitment to Stellenbosch while expressing a desire to play in Europe.

When specifically questioned about the interest from Kaizer Chiefs, Toure simply responded, “I have one more year with Stellenbosch.”

Since his arrival at Stellies from Marumo Gallants at the start of last season, Toure has appeared in 85 matches, scoring two goals and making one assist. His goal in the Carling Knockout Cup final against TS Galaxy played a crucial role in the club’s historic trophy victory.