Bafana Bafana centre-back Olwethu Makhanya is attracting reported interest from three major European leagues after a strong start at Rangers FC. Brentford in England, Sevilla in Spain and Bologna in Italy are said to be monitoring the 22-year-old.
The Report
Turkish transfer reporter Ekrem Konur says all three clubs are closely following Makhanya after his impressive start in Scotland. No formal bid has been confirmed, and there is no reported agreement with Rangers.
Making a Name at Rangers
Makhanya, formerly of Marumo Gallants and Stellenbosch FC, joined Rangers from Philadelphia Union in MLS. His form has been a big factor in Rangers’ defensive improvement:
- Seven clean sheets in his first 11 consecutive starts across all competitions
- A growing partnership with Emmanuel Fernandez at the back
- The Scottish Premiership Player of the Month award for September 2026
- Standout showings against Celtic, including a 1-0 win at Celtic Park and a 3-0 win in the Scottish League Cup
A Proud South African Tradition
A move to a top league would continue a long line of South Africans in Europe. In England, Lucas Radebe starred at Leeds United, Steven Pienaar at Everton and Benni McCarthy at Blackburn, while Quinton Fortune played for Manchester United and Lyle Foster and Percy Tau have featured more recently. In Spain, Fortune also played for Atletico Madrid and Mallorca, and McCarthy for Celta Vigo. In Italy, Phil Masinga became a favourite at Bari, and Mark Fish played for Lazio.
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