Olwethu Makhanya is a South African central defender, born on 30 April 2004 (age 22). He has built his early senior career away from the usual Scottish pathways, with his clearest run of games coming in the United States before his move into the Rangers squad.
His most productive league season came in 2024 with Philadelphia Union II, where he scored twice in 26 appearances. That was the first spell in which there was enough volume to judge him as more than a development prospect, even if the level still called for a bit of caution.
At Rangers in 2026-27, Makhanya has made six league appearances, along with two in the League Cup and two in Conference League qualifying. That gives him 10 appearances across all competitions, wearing squad number 24.
Makhanya’s career is still taking shape: a South African centre-half who earned regular football in Philadelphia and is now being worked into the first-team picture at Rangers.
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