Banyana Banyana attacker Thembi Kgatlana has completed her transfer move to Portuguese giants SL Benfica.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a successful stint in China playing for Beijing Phoenix, scoring nine goals in all competitions, while helping them finish in fifth place in the Chinese Women’s Super League during the 2018-19 season.

The former African Player of the Year’s stellar performance at the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations helped Banyana qualify for their first-ever Fifa Women’s World Cup in France last year, where she scored South Africa’s only goal in their 3-1 defeat by Spain.

‘I am very excited to sign for Benfica. I thank the team, the president, and everyone for giving me the opportunity to come to Portugal and Benfica,’ Kgatlana told her new club’s official website.

‘Benfica is a great club in Portugal and in the world. I have already had the opportunity to see history and records, and for me, it is a great honour to be part of such a great club.

‘I am 23 years old, I come from South Africa, I play for the national team and now also for Benfica. I have 15 years of football, divided by the youth and senior classes.

‘I thank the fans for their support. We are in first place in the Championship and I ask that they continue to support so that at the end of the season we can lift the trophy.’

Benfica vice-president Fernando Tavares highlighted the qualities of the now red player, admitting he has ‘very high expectations’ of Houston Dash star.

‘We have very high expectations for Thembi. She was considered the best African of the year in 2019, she is a player with very strong characteristics, she is very fast, she can do one or two positions on the field, she can play nine be extreme. This acquisition will endow Benfica’s attack with several solutions to add to the ones we already have, considering what are the objectives of the time,’ Tavares said.