Until a few hours ago it seemed certain that Mamelodi Sundowns' Zimbabwe international Khama Billiat would leave South Africa's Premier Soccer League, with concrete interest from Europe and North Africa.
Instead he has taken a step backwards, departing what is currently the best team in the country in Sundowns for a side that is living off reputation, but has little substance to their claims to be South Africa's biggest club anymore.
He has gone from working under a top coach in Pitso Mosimane in what is the most professional environment in the PSL, to a team whose hierarchy is notoriously dysfunctional, and who does not have permanent coach at all despite their last one leaving more than two months ago.
At the age of 27, this was Billiat's last chance to fulfill his dream of playing in Europe, to test himself on a bigger stage. But he can most likely forget that now.
Egyptian side Zamalek made an offer worth a reported R500,000 per month to Billiat in a league that is a higher quality than the PSL and closer to the scouts Europe, but according to the players' agent Michael Ngobeni, he turned it down
It would have been a good opportunity to test himself, but instead he has chosen for the comforts and opulence of Soweto in a league he has already mastered.
Billiat stated earlier this month that there were only specific leagues that he was looking at in Europe - likely the top ones - and seemed content that if he did not find a club in those, then he would be happy to remain in South Africa.
At the time he talked up the environment at Sundowns and the influence of Mosimane, who wanted the forward to sign a new contract and stay at Chloorkop.
"Obviously for every player it's a dream to play overseas. But maybe it's different with me‚" Billiat told reporters.
"I want to play overseas for the right reason. I don't want to be there because I'm getting old. I want to be there because I deserve to be there. I want to be there because my talent allows me to be there.
"And I want to be there to go to certain clubs and certain countries that I believe I want to be in, not just be there because it's Europe‚ and not be happy and the next thing I'm back."
When pressed on local options, Billiat seemed to suggest it was Sundowns or nothing.
"The environment like that (at Sundowns]‚ which is hungry to win cups and play with purpose. I enjoy celebrating at the end. At Sundowns it's actually that you don't know how to take the loss. It doesn't sit well with us," he added.
"It's just been great and that's the great feeling that I always want to have."
Without being unkind, it is a feeling he is going to find hard to replicate at Chiefs, a club that needs a massive injection of quality into the squad in just about all departments bar goalkeeper.
Billiat will be the marquee signing of the transfer window as Chiefs seek to win back the trust of their fans, but he is not enough to change their fortunes alone.
The other two signings announced on Friday are underwhelming.
Madagascan forward Andriamirado Andrianarimanana, more simply known as Dax, was the Player of the Tournament at the recent COSAFA Cup, but will struggle with the pace and physicality of the Premier Soccer League.
And defender Letlhogonolo Mirwa comes from the South African third tier and is already 23 years of age. With the greatest of respect, hardly the type of players to change the fortunes of the Amakhosi.
Billiat will likely go down in history as a good PSL player, but not a great one, even if you have to admire the quality of his play.
But could he have cut a much more impressive legacy for himself had he been bolder in his choice this month? Would we have in five years' time been talking about the 'great' Khama Billiat?
We will probably never know, but what a pity for one of the class acts of the local league in the last few seasons that he never even gave it a shot.