Olwethu Makhanya: Rangers eye move for South African Philadelphia defender

Olwethu Makhanya, the South African centre-back currently with Philadelphia, is being linked with a move to Scottish Premiership side Rangers as the Ibrox club assess defensive options for the new season.

The 22-year-old, who plays as a right-footed central defender and stands at 1.85m, is under contract with the MLS club until 31 December 2027, meaning Rangers would need to negotiate a fee rather than target a free transfer. Makhanya is valued at around €2 million, a figure likely to frame any talks between the clubs.

Born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, Makhanya joined Philadelphia from Stellenbosch FC in July 2023, with the American side paying a fee in the region of €445,000 at the time. He has since broken into the first team, making 13 MLS appearances and also featuring in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where he has scored once in four games.

His progress in the United States has come alongside team success, with Makhanya part of the Philadelphia squad that lifted the Supporters’ Shield in the 2024-25 campaign. That exposure in a title-winning environment has helped raise his profile in Europe.

Rangers are understood to be monitoring central defensive options as they look to reinforce ahead of domestic and European commitments, and Makhanya’s long-term contract in MLS underlines that Philadelphia are in a strong position should any formal approach be made.