Although the club would not go on record with the news, Sowetan understands that the defensive midfielder has completed his transfer and is already training with the squad at their Pretoria base, where they are in camp.

Keita has been identified by coach Muhsin Ertugral as a replacement for Bafana Bafana international Clifford Ngobeni, who returned to Orlando Pirates from his loan spell at Arrows last season.

Ertugral offered Keita a contract without a trial, having worked with the player before at Turkish top-flight side Sivasspor. He can also operate as a centre-back and provides Abafana Bes'thende with cover in an area that proved troublesome last season.

Keita was a late call-up to the Mali national side for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, with Jomo Cosmos's Ousmane Berthe, and played in the final few minutes of the third place play-off victory over Ghana.

He began his career with Djoliba AC in his homeland, but rose to prominence at Algerian side ES Sétif. He was involved in transfer controversy in 2007 when he signed for Qatari side Al-Arabi, but days later penned a deal with French Ligue 1 team Ajaccio.