Premier Soccer League giants Dynamos have completed the signing on of Eli Ilunga, with the Congolese striker becoming their third acquisition this transfer window.
The 25-year old's arrival was announced on the club’s social media pages yesterday.
It is understood that the big centre forward, who was with army side Black Rhinos last season, penned a two-year contract with DeMbare.
The 2021-22 Soccer Star of the Year finalist was DeMbare's priority signing as they look to strengthen their strike force, a department that horribly came short last season.
A pre-contract agreement was signed in November, days after the end of a season in which he had netted 11 goals, six shy of the league's Golden Boot winner William Manondo’s tally.
A trip to his home country during the festive holidays, however, delayed the official signing of the contract.
Ilunga’s arrival takes the number of new Dynamos signings to three.
DeMbare last week said they had captured highly-rated Arthur “Diego” Musiiwa from Bulawayo Chiefs and Tendai Matindife, who was with Ngezi Platinum Stars last year as the club seeks to give new coach Herbert Maruwa the tools to conquer the league in the upcoming season.
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A number of players are set to follow suit in the coming days, with the Moyo twins, Elvis and Kelvin likely to be officially announced this week after penning contracts last week.
Dynamos are also believed to be in advanced talks with Nyasha Chintuli, Tanaka Shandirwa, Donald Dzvinyai, Emmanuel Ziocha, Prince Milanzi, Keith Madera and last season's Rookie of the Year, Jayden Barake.
The players have been training with DeMbare in the past few weeks, and sources said they impressed Maruwa who has since recommended that the club signs them.
Defender Frank Makarati has also extended his stay with the club by two more years, ending speculation about his future.
His contract expired on December 31 and the last season's Soccer Star of the Year second runner-up had been linked with a move to a foreign club.
But it appears the lure of the captain's armband, which was dangled to Makarati, coupled with huge perks at DeMbare, convinced him to stay on.
He will be taking over the captaincy from Patson Jaure, who was shown the exit door in a recent clean-out purge..
Other high-profile figures who were purged include former vice-captain Godknows Murwira, Keith Murera, Ralph Kawondera and the foreign trio of Sylvester Appiah, Albert Eonde and Alex Orotomal.
Evans Katema and Ghanaian Martin Ofori have been transfer-listed while juniors Luke Musikiri, Claivert Tshuma and Stephen Chatikobo were also released. Midfielder Trevor Mavhunga has also left the club after turning down an improved contract offer. He has since joined Manica Diamonds, together with Kawondera.
Jaure and Murera are now with Simba Bhora while Murwira joined crosstown rivals, Caps United.
