South African defender Olwethu Makhanya targets Premier League and La Liga move

Rangers defender Olwethu Makhanya has revealed his ambitions to play in one of Europe’s top five leagues after his spell in the Scottish Premiership.

The former Stellenbosch FC defender has impressed since joining Rangers from Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union, and his performances have strengthened his desire to continue climbing the football ladder.

Makhanya says the English Premier League and Spanish La Liga are among the competitions he would like to experience, while France is also an option as he targets the biggest leagues in European football.

“I would put Premier League and La Liga up there and maybe France. So, that’s where we’re trying to get,” he told Metro FM.

The South African defender explained that he has mapped out his career ambitions and remains focused on taking the necessary steps to reach the highest level.

“I have my goals listed, where I’ve played, where I am right now and where I’m trying to go,” he added.

Makhanya acknowledged that there are still several stages to complete before he can achieve his ultimate objective, but he remains determined to continue developing and earning opportunities at a higher level.

“So, we still have a couple of steps there left cause the main goal is to play in top five leagues in the world.”

The 20-year-old’s immediate focus remains on establishing himself at Rangers and maintaining the level of performance required to attract interest from clubs in Europe’s elite leagues.

His long-term ambition is clear: to use his experience in Scotland as another step towards competing in one of Europe’s traditional top-five leagues.