Rangers confirm Antman exit as Makhanya transfer edges closer

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Oliver Antman has joined Anderlecht on a permanent deal from Rangers, while Derek McInnes revealed the transfer of Olwethu Makhanya was close to being completed. 

Antman departs Ibrox just over a year after joining the club from Go Ahead Eagles for £3.5m, though it has been reported that Rangers have managed to recoup that transfer fee. 

The 24-year-old failed to make an impact under Danny Rohl, making just 32 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing five assists. 

Anderlecht confirmed that the Finland international has agreed a four-year deal with the club with the option of a further year. 

He becomes the eighth player to leave the Scottish Premiership giants this summer, though McInnes confirmed reinforcements were coming before the window slams shut. 

McInnes told reporters ahead of this Friday’s league curtain-raiser against Dundee United that Rangers were close to completing a move for the Philadelphia Union’s Makhanya. 

The defender was a part of South Africa’s World Cup squad this summer and appears set to bolster McInnes’ defensive options for the 2026-27 campaign. 

“We’re close to announcing that one. It looks quite good for us,” McInnes said of Makhanya’s impending move to Ibrox. 

“He’s got a lot of athleticism, he has good potential and, while he’s coming from MLS and a different country and a different type of football, I’m confident he can cope with that.

“If you look at defence, we’re short on numbers, and we probably still need to bring in another couple of defenders before the window closes.”

We can today confirm Oliver Antman has joined @rscanderlecht for an undisclosed fee.

Everyone at Rangers wishes Oliver all the best for the future. pic.twitter.com/bIrxok1C47

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 29, 2026

Should Makhanya join Rangers, he would become their eighth addition of the summer, and the second central defender after Ben Godfrey, who joined from Atalanta on loan. 

McInnes also revealed he intends to bring in another central defender before their clash at Tannadice Park. 

“We’re still actively trying to do one more,” McInnes added. “It’s quite an important one for us position-wise.

“We haven’t given up hope that both could be with us for Dundee United on Friday.”

Rangers’ clash with Dundee United will be McInnes’ first league game in charge of the Glasgow giants since joining from Hearts. 

The last manager to lose their first top-flight league match in charge of the club was Graeme Murty in February 2017 (1-2 v Dundee), with 11 Gers bosses avoiding defeat in their first since (W8 D3).

McInnes has only lost one of his last 15 Scottish Premiership games against Dundee United (W8 D6), a 0-4 defeat with Kilmarnock in November 2022.

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