Rangers Close In On £3.38m Defender: Excellent Value For The Ibrox Giants? | OneFootball

Ibrox bosses are edging closer to securing a fresh face for the back line, with Philadelphia Union’s Olwethu Makhanya in their sights. A report from The Athletic reckons a deal somewhere around the £3.38 million mark is almost over the line, though the MLS outfit have insisted on sticking a heavy sell-on clause into the paperwork. Clearly, the lads in Pennsylvania reckon the defender’s market value is going to skyrocket in the next few years.

Rangers close in on Olwethu Makhanya’s signing

At 22, the South African centre-half has been attracting attention ever since his eye-catching debut year in the States. Look back to the 2025 MLS campaign. He racked up 32 league outings, helped his side lock down 15 clean sheets, and proved instrumental as Philly lifted the Supporters’ Shield. That form marked him out as one of the most complete young defenders in the entire division.

Then came 2026. Different story altogether. Makhanya only managed 13 appearances, clocking 1,170 minutes as Philadelphia hit a brick wall, rotting at the bottom of the table before everyone packed up for the FIFA World Cup break. Off he went to join the South Africa squad, but he never actually flew back across the Atlantic, opting instead to dig his heels in and force a move to Europe. Now, with The Athletic suggesting the deal is on the brink, Derek McInnes looks set to grab himself another useful defensive option ahead of the new season.

T4O take: Why Rangers could land excellent value

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 21: Olwethu Makhanya #29 of the Philadelphia Union kicks the ball against D.C. United during the second half of the match at Audi Field on February 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Spending £3.38 million in today’s market feels remarkably shrewd. Rangers desperately need cover in the middle of defence, especially given the ongoing noise surrounding John Souttar’s future and the thin squad depth behind Ben Godfrey and Emmanuel Fernandez. Makhanya is at an age where he can still sharpen his game, yet he brings genuine first-team minutes from proper competitive environments.

That brilliant 2025 season wasn’t a fluke. Winning over 64% of his aerial battles while organising the stingiest back four in MLS points to the exact physical traits you need to handle the rough and tumble of Scottish football. He throws himself into challenges, doesn’t mind a scrap for second balls, and uses both feet comfortably enough when playing out from the back.

This is sound, logical business from the board. You rarely see international-grade defenders under 23 moving for these sorts of fees, especially ones with a proven track record of playing week in, week out over an intense calendar year.

Mind you, the exit strategy leaves a bit of a sour taste. Refusing to report back to Philadelphia post-World Cup just to push through a transfer is going to raise an eyebrow or two in recruitment departments. Managers take note of that stuff. Still, Rangers are getting serious talent, raw physicality, and solid resale potential at a bargain price. If McInnes gets him settled into the group and gets him playing anywhere near his 2025 levels, that £3.38 million outlay will look like absolute robbery.