Centre-BackSouth Africa22 years oldPlays for Rangers FC
Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized and cropped.
Olwethu Makhanya is a South African centre-back currently leading the Rangers defense. Born on 30 April 2004, he has evolved into a key component of the Ibrox side. He joined the club last summer and hasn't looked back since.
He possesses a technical grace born from street football in Durban, where he often played with oversized boots. This environment taught him to be agile in 1v1 duels. Makhanya is comfortable on the ball, frequently driving forward with carries and successful dribbles. He shows attacking intent, often creating chances from deep positions. While his aerial game is noted, focusing on physical consistency will help him as he steps up level.
Makhanya moved from Marumo Gallants to Stellenbosch FC in 2022 before a quick move to Philadelphia Union in 2023 for €445k. After joining Rangers in July 2026 for €3.5m, he has become nearly indispensable. He has featured in 11 games this season, securing five clean sheets in his first ten matches.
Top European clubs are watching, but Rangers are firm on keeping him. His contract is in place until 2030, ensuring the club holds the power hand.
Sunderland and Brentford have reportedly sent scouts to monitor Rangers defender centre-back Olwethu Makhanya. The South African international has a contract at Ibrox until 2030.
Premier League clubs, including Brentford, are monitoring Rangers centre-back Olwethu Makhanya for future windows. The South African's contract runs until June 2030.
Bologna are reportedly monitoring Olwethu Makhanya, a centre‑back at Rangers. His contract runs to 2030. On 11 Oct, savarsitynewz reported the interest via a Facebook post and an article, with the article noting that no…
The source describes the transfer as completed but classifies it as "failed," marking it as a past event.