According to The Athletic, the Union are set to receive a fee north of $4.5 million (R75 million), plus a significant sell-on clause, with the 22-year-old having pushed for a European move throughout the summer and electing not to return to Philadelphia after being included in South Africa’s World Cup squad.
Makhanya emerged as one of Major League Soccer’s standout defenders in 2025, playing a key role as the Union won the Supporters’ Shield for the league’s best regular season record.
He did not feature at this year’s World Cup, with his only senior international appearance to date coming against Nicaragua in May.
Philadelphia have endured a difficult 2026, entering the World Cup break bottom of the table and parting ways with head coach Bradley Carnell, though results have since picked up with back to back wins in Makhanya’s absence.
The Union had previously turned down an offer from a leading Belgian club for the defender, judging it well below his value.
The move would continue Rangers’ busy defensive rebuild under new manager Derek McInnes, who succeeded Danny Rohl in June, following the arrivals of Ben Godfrey on loan from Atalanta and Ross McCrorie on a permanent deal from Bristol City.
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