Bafana Bafana defender Olwethu Makhanya has captured attention in the Scottish Premiership with Rangers, prompting industry predictions that the young centre-back could eventually depart Ibrox for a transfer fee exceeding £30 million, which would surpass the club’s previous outgoing records.
The former Philadelphia Union and Stellenbosch defender has quickly established himself in the heart of Derek McInnes’ defence since his arrival in July. Through his first 10 appearances across all competitions, starting every game, the 22-year-old has anchored a backline that secured clean sheets in four of their last five league matches, contributing to five clean sheets overall since signing.
Ibrox Form and Defensive Impact
Makhanya’s strong start in Scotland coincides with a crucial period for Rangers in the domestic campaign. After seven rounds of fixtures, the Gers have enjoyed a positive opening to the campaign and entered the FIFA break sitting second in the standings on 16 points, trailing arch-rivals Celtic by just two points. Momentum shifted significantly for the squad following a 3-0 League Cup drubbing over The Hoops, followed by a 1-0 league win four days later in their last match before the break. Supporter optimism regarding potential silverware this term has surged on the back of these triumphs, particularly given that the team’s last league championship came in 2021—an underperformance for a club of Rangers’ stature, which has also secured very few trophies in recent years.
Observers have lauded Makhanya’s overall displays, highlighting both his composure in possession and his eagerness to engage in physical challenges. Football commentators have taken note of the defender’s physical and technical contributions on the pitch. According to Ibrox News and Scottish Premiership journalist Andy Newport, the former Stellenbosch man was praised for his commanding presence, and the club stands to turn a substantial profit on a player who initially arrived for a modest fee.
“Makhanya at the back. I mean wow, that guy. I think it’s £3m Rangers signed him for. If he carries on like this, they’re going to make that multiple times because he’s a proper classy operator,” Andy Newport
Transfer Valuations and the £30 Million Benchmark
Despite staggering valuation estimates being discussed for a possible transfer, Rangers are facing zero pressure to offload their star defensive asset. Makhanya is on a good contract until 2030, and with the ownership having made big offers for players already, they are in no rush to sell. However, analysts are already projecting historic figures for any eventual departure. The current outgoing transfer record for the club stands at approximately £22 million (R476m), set when Calvin Bassey went to Ajax. Clark noted that Makhanya’s attributes are what you look for in a modern centre-back, as he looks like he’s got the whole package, is very athletic, and is still very young and developing.
Speaking on his trajectory, Rangers Review journalist Derek Clark suggested to KICK OFF that Makhanya could start attracting suitors as early as January when the transfer window opens next year, stating: “We’re hoping we can see him in a Rangers jersey for a long time to come, he’s on a good contract, I think until 2030 but there are feels that if he keeps this form, some of the big clubs in Europe might be looking at him, try test the waters with a bid in January.” Derek Clark, Rangers Review Journalist
If he can help Rangers win the league title he will be a hero at Ibrox, that’s for sure. If he keeps this form there will be a lot of clubs looking at him. Rangers have made big offers for players already with the ownership, they are in no rush to sell. “I think he would be a record sale if he does leave, his attributes are what you look for in a modern centre-back. He looks like he’s got the whole package, he is very athletic and very young still, still developing, so I think he would be an attractive option for many clubs,” Derek Clark, Rangers Review Journalist
International Duty and Future Projections
Beyond his club commitments, Makhanya continues to feature on the international stage. Playing every single minute of the fixture, he helped Bafana Bafana kick off their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-1 triumph over Guinea on Saturday. Although he was also part of South Africa’s squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he did not feature during the tournament. Having only recently commenced his journey with Rangers, Makhanya now possesses a great platform to advance his growth in Scottish football while simultaneously solidifying his place within the national team setup. Clark added that if he keeps this up, he would expect offers to come probably in the summer.
