Venezuelan striker Jose Ali Meza has completed a permanent move from Mamelodi Sundowns to Maritzburg United.
The 29-year-old spent the past two seasons at the Brazilians, only managing 25 league appearances during the period.
He was previously linked with a loan move to the “Team of Choice”, which did not materialise as he opted to remain in Tshwane.
Jose Ali Meza joins Maritzburg United
On Tuesday, the KwaZulu-Natal based outfit revealed that the player has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the club.
✍️ Welcome, José Alí Meza
Meza has signed a two-year deal with the Team of Choice. #WelcomeMeza #WeAreUnited pic.twitter.com/iuNxax52rC
— Maritzburg United FC (@MaritzburgUtd) October 13, 2020
He becomes the second Sundowns striker in as many seasons to trade yellow for blue, following New Zealand international, Jeremy Brockie’s loan move ahead of the previous campaign.
Competition for places
Following the 32-year-old’s release from United, Meza is expected to compete for a spot in his new club’s frontline with the likes of Judas Moseamedi, recently-capped Bafana striker Thabiso Kutumela, as well as rising star Bongokuhle Hlongwane.
The former Venezuelan youth international can, however, also operate from either wing, where the club has recalled Deolin Mekoa from a loan spell at Ajax Cape Town, with players such as Mxolisi Kunene and Yusuf Jappie also competing for starting berths.
Meza arrived in South Africa with a reputation as a proven goal-scorer, but struggled to find the back of the net during his spell at Sundowns.
In a total of 38 matches across competitions, he managed to score just three goals, with two coming in games where the Tshwane giants managed to score at least four times.
Maritzburg United have also re-signed 25-year-old defensive midfielder Phumlani Ntshangase, who has previously spent a loan spell at the club.
The player joined on a free transfer after his former club Bidvest Wits had folded.