Sphephelo “Yaya” Sithole is one of South African football’s most intriguing exports.
The central midfielder has spent almost his entire professional career in Portugal, and he is heading to the FIFA World Cup as a key figure in Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana squad. But how much has this journey earned him?
This article breaks down Yaya Sithole’s net worth in 2026, his salary at CD Tondela, full contract details, career earnings by year, and everything else worth knowing about his financial profile.
Yaya Sithole’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sphephelo S’Miso Sithole |
| Date of Birth | 3 March 1999 |
| Age | 27 |
| Place of Birth | Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Position | Central Midfielder / Defensive Midfielder |
| Current Club | CD Tondela (Liga Portugal) |
| Shirt Number | 15 |
| Turned Professional | 2019 (B-SAD, Portugal) |
| Market Value | €600,000 (per Transfermarkt) |
| Estimated Net Worth | $350,000 |
| Annual Salary | €200,000 gross (per Capology) |
| Contract Expires | 30 June 2027 |
| International Caps | 27+ (South Africa) |
| Agent | Blueprivate |
Early Life & Career
Sphephelo Sithole was born on 3 March 1999 in Ulundi, a small town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He grew up in a footballing environment where talent scouts were scarce, but his ability on the ball stood out early.
At around 13 years old, in 2014, he was spotted during a scouting drive organised by the KZN Football Academy — the same initiative that had produced talent recognised across the continent.
The scout who identified him, Paulo Cardoso, was notably the same coach who had once discovered Cristiano Ronaldo as a child, lending an almost mythical quality to Sithole’s discovery story.
From the moment he joined the KZN Academy, the nickname “Yaya” stuck. His teammates and coaches noticed similarities between his imposing physical presence, composure in possession, and commanding midfield style and the great Yaya Touré of Ivory Coast and Manchester City.
As Sithole himself explained,
“I got the name at the KZN Academy because when I got there, there was one guy who said to me I play like Yaya Touré and always gave them a hard time. So, that is basically how I got the name.”
In 2017, Sporting Lisbon visited South Africa for a tournament and were so impressed by Sithole’s performance that they invited him to join their youth academy.
At just 18, he packed his bags and moved to Lisbon, adapting to a new language, culture, and the intense demands of European youth football.
After a spell in Sporting’s U19 setup, he moved to Vitória Setúbal’s development side in 2018–19, continuing to sharpen his game before earning a senior professional contract.
Professional Career
Sithole’s senior career began in earnest in 2019 when he signed with Belenenses SAD (B-SAD), a Lisbon-based club competing in Portugal’s top flight.
He made his Primeira Liga debut on 15 July 2020, coming off the bench in a 1–1 draw against Sporting Braga — a moment celebrated back home in KwaZulu-Natal by the academy that had developed him.
Over the following three seasons, he made over 70 appearances across B-SAD’s first and reserve teams, establishing himself as a reliable defensive screen in the heart of midfield.
When B-SAD suffered relegation from Liga Portugal 2 in 2023, Sithole moved on. On 11 July 2023, he signed a two-year contract with CD Tondela, the club where he has since settled most comfortably.
In July 2024, he was loaned to Gil Vicente for a season-long spell in the Primeira Liga, though a serious leg injury disrupted his momentum considerably — sidelining him for most of the 2024–25 campaign.
He returned to Tondela in the summer of 2025, extended his contract through June 2027, and has since become a regular starter in the 2025–26 Liga Portugal season, making 21 appearances and scoring one goal by mid-February 2026.
His rise on the international stage has been equally notable. Sithole made his Bafana Bafana debut in June 2022 in a 2–1 defeat to Morocco during AFCON qualifying.
He has never looked back since. He was part of the squad that claimed the AFCON bronze medal in Ivory Coast in 2024, featured prominently in the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, and in May 2026 was included in South Africa’s 26-man FIFA World Cup squad — a historic achievement for a player who has never played professional club football on home soil.
Yaya Sithole’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Yaya Sithole’s has an estimated net worth of $350,000.
He has built this wealth through his professional football contracts in Portugal, spanning clubs including B-SAD, CD Tondela, and a loan stint at Gil Vicente — a career almost entirely based in the competitive Portuguese league system.
Contract
Sithole has two years and €400,000 remaining on his contract with Tondela in the Primeira Liga, with the deal expiring on 30 June 2027.
Tondela extended his stay at the club until the end of June 2027 in December 2025, after which Sithole described the renewal as a “no brainer,” saying the club and city had made him feel at home.
Despite signing the renewal, Sithole has expressed a desire to eventually move to a more prestigious club, believing a new challenge would benefit his career at this stage.
His current deal with Tondela, represented through agent firm Blueprivate, keeps him at the Portuguese club through the 2026–27 season.
The contract was most recently extended in December 2025, according to Transfermarkt’s player profile.
Salary
Sithole earns an estimated gross fixed salary of €200,000 for the 2025–26 season, with €400,000 in total remaining across the life of his contract.
This works out to roughly €16,667 per month gross — a solid wage for a player in Liga Portugal, though modest by the standards of top European leagues.
His salary trajectory reflects steady growth from his B-SAD days, where earnings were more limited as a squad player in Portugal’s second tier.
The Tondela deal represents his most lucrative arrangement to date, which is consistent with his profile as a full international and a regular starter at top-flight level.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Competition | Est. Gross Earnings (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | B-SAD | Primeira Liga / Liga Portugal 2 | ~$20,000 |
| 2020–21 | B-SAD | Primeira Liga | ~$30,000 |
| 2021–22 | B-SAD | Primeira Liga | ~$40,000 |
| 2022–23 | B-SAD | Liga Portugal 2 | ~$35,000 |
| 2023–24 | CD Tondela | Liga Portugal 2 | ~$50,000 |
| 2024–25 | Gil Vicente (loan) | Primeira Liga | ~$50,000* |
| 2025–26 | CD Tondela | Primeira Liga | ~$218,000 (€200k gross) |
- *Estimated; 2024–25 season significantly impacted by leg injury
- Total estimated career gross earnings: ~$443,000
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | B-SAD | Primeira Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | B-SAD | Primeira Liga | 25 | 0 | 7 |
| 2021–22 | B-SAD | Primeira Liga | 25 | 0 | 9 |
| 2022–23 | B-SAD | Liga Portugal 2 | 20 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023–24 | CD Tondela | Liga Portugal 2 | 22 | 2 | 7 |
| 2024–25 | Gil Vicente (loan) | Primeira Liga | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025–26 | CD Tondela | Primeira Liga | 21* | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 116+ | 3+ | 27+ |
International Career
| Period | Team | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | South Africa U17 | Reported | — |
| 2022–present | South Africa (senior) | 27+ | 1 |
FAQs
What is Yaya Sithole’s net worth?
Yaya Sithole’s estimated net worth is approximately $350,000. He has built this wealth entirely through his professional football career in Portugal with B-SAD, CD Tondela, and a season-long loan at Gil Vicente.
How much does Yaya Sithole earn per year?
Sithole earns an estimated gross fixed salary of €200,000 per year (approximately $218,000) for the 2025–26 season at CD Tondela in the Primeira Liga, according to football salary tracker Capology.
What club does Yaya Sithole play?
He plays for CD Tondela in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, where he has been based since July 2023. His contract runs until 30 June 2027, though he has publicly expressed interest in joining a bigger club.
Why is Sphephelo Sithole called “Yaya”?
He earned the nickname at the KZN Football Academy in South Africa because his teammates and coaches felt his playing style — commanding, composed, and physically imposing in midfield — resembled that of the legendary Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré.
Is Yaya Sithole in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad?
Yes. Sithole was included in South Africa’s official 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in May 2026, making him one of only four midfielders selected by coach Hugo Broos alongside Teboho Mokoena, Thalente Mbatha, and Jayden Adams.
