NEGOTIATIONS to take Mulomowandau Mathoho from Bloemfontein Celtic to Kaizer Chiefs were reaching a conclusion last night, bringing to a potential close months of speculation over the future of the towering defender.

Mathoho will be the final piece in the jigsaw for Chiefs in a frenzy of post-season market activity, said the club's football manager Bobby Motaung.

"We have agreed with Celtic and they have promised to finish up all the paperwork by the end of the day. This is the last deal that we wanted to do," Motaung said.

Amakhosi have got their man ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns, who were also courting the player and had also been in discussions with Celtic.

That will come as a source of some pride to Motaung, who has had similar high-profile deals gazumped by billionaire Patrice Motsepe over the past few seasons.

Mathoho will become the sixth new signing for Chiefs since they moved quickly out of the starting blocks to begin buying after the disappointment of yet another trophy-less season.

Mathoho will partner Morgan Gould, who cost R5-million from SuperSport United, in Chiefs' new-look central defence next season.

The fee for Mathoho is not known and neither club would disclose it yesterday.

Chiefs have already also signed Siboniso Gaxa, Sakhile Hlongwa, Nhlanhla Khuzwayo and Siyabonga Nkosi.

The 22-year-old Mathoho, born in Tshiondo in Venda, won his third cap for Bafana Bafana last Friday against Gabon.