"My mind was already made up" - Yusuf Maart reveals details of SV Ried transfer

The 30-year-old former Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United midfielder spent three years with Amakosi.

He jumped at the opportunity to move to Europe after making contact with the newly-promoted top-flight team.

In an interview with Soccerbeat, Maart revealed the details of the switch, despite Chiefs being keen for him to remain in the Betway Premiership.

"It was like three months before the league [2024/25 season] ended. They called me for a Zoom meeting with my agent and they asked me if I was willing to come. I told them if everything is good, why not?

"If they can sort it out by the club, Chiefs. For me, I'm ready to take the next step. That's how it came about, and obviously, they had a few games in the second division that they needed to win and be guaranteed [Bundesliga promotion]. To me, they were fully confident that they were going there and were going to make it."

Maart was a key player for Chiefs last season and was on target in the 2-1 Nedbank Cup final win against Orlando Pirates.

"I told them [Chiefs] that it's a possibility that when the season ends, I can leave. They said Yusuf, ‘let's see because we need you for a few more seasons,'" added Maart.

"The Chiefs coaches asked me to stay, but I said it's an opportunity I don't want to miss out on playing in Europe and get how it feels. They disagreed. But obviously SV Ried were going on the side with the club."

"I told them that my mind is already made up, and as a player, if your mind is made up, you won't get the same player of before, a few seasons ago with the club."

Maart has hit the ground running this season with SV Ried, playing the majority of his side's games, with Ried currently top of Group B the the Austrian Bundesliga.