Rangers have unearthed a Premier League star - and a big-money move beckons

21 Sept 2026 16:03 BST | 5 min read

Olwethu Makhanya, Rangers, 2026/27 — © IMAGO

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

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Olwethu Makhanya left Philadelphia Union to join Scottish Premiership outfit Rangers in July, and already the South Africa international star is being touted with a big-money move to the Premier League.

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Rangers spent an estimated £3.4 million signing Makhanya from the MLS side following the 2026 World Cup, and the 22-year-old has rapidly become earmarked as one of the outstanding defenders in the league.

This reputation was cemented by two excellent displays against Celtic in the space of a week, which the Gers won 3-0 and 1-0, turning the early momentum in the title race towards the Ibrox side.

Current ETV

Olwethu Makhanya

D (C)

Rangers

Olwethu Makhanya

D (C)

Rangers

ETV Range

€1.8M - €2.7M

But already there are fears that his stay in Glasgow could be short-lived given just how accomplished his early displays have been.

Makhanya is already being tipped for a big move

“Makhanya, I can't see him being a Rangers player for long. I can't,” former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday said in comments relayed by the Evening Times.

“He's an absolute Rolls-Royce of a defender. Duran tried to roll him twice and we know how quick Duran is. When Hassan comes on, Makhanya goes one vs one with Hassan.

“Complete composure on the ball and his goal... Alright it was ruled out and rightfully so it hits his hand, but when it hit the back of the net I couldn't believe what I was watching.

“I just think he's been an absolute revelation since he's come into the side. He's made Emmanuel Fernandez better alongside him as well.”

Makhanya has already drawn Van Dijk comparisons

Fernandez was a player ambitiously linked with a move to Arsenal, but his new colleague already looks the likelier to achieve the type of transfer that Virgil van Dijk made when he left Celtic to join Southampton in 2015 before subsequently becoming a Liverpool legend.

The lapses that the Nigerian has shown have not been visible in Makhanya – at least so far.

Instead, Rangers’ new centre-back, who was part of the South Africa World Cup squad but did not actually play a single game, has appeared strong, quick and composed, willing to take responsibility to carry the ball out of defence. His all-round game has been excellent.

© IMAGO - Olwethu Makhanya of Rangers challenges Tawanda Maswanhise of Motherwell

His impact on the Rangers defence has been notable. Across the last eight games that he has started, the Gers have conceded only three goals, helping them to achieve three successive 1-0 wins in the league.

“It’s a real concern that Makhanya is doing so well that somebody might come in and try to pinch him in January, similarly to what happened with Boumsong,” ex-Rangers and Scotland defender Alan Hutton said.

“He’s been one of the best signings for Rangers for a long time. He’s come in and settled in seamlessly, a bit under the radar. Rangers haven’t had much success recently with guys coming in from MLS, but he’s just taken everything in his stride.”

Rangers could be sitting on a huge profit

Rangers’ goal in the short term will be to retain Makhanya until at least the end of the season and take stock of their position at that point. Certainly, losing such a talent in January is not on the cards unless a club arrives with a crazy bid.

Even though it’s early days in his Ibrox career, the Gers will have one eye on a record sale, which currently stands at the €23m that Ajax paid for Calvin Bassey in 2022.

At 22, Makhanya has ample scope for improvement, but he’s already shown in his early weeks at Rangers that he is built for British football, and just how far he goes will depend on the months ahead. All the indications are, though, that the Gers stand to make a healthy profit on one of their most impressive signings in recent years.