Philadelphia Union sign South African center back Olwethu Makhanya

Philadelphia Union announced today that they have signed defender Olwethu Makhanya from Stellenbosch FC to a two-and-a-half-year contract. His contract with the Union will run through the 2025 season with a club option through 2027. Makhanya will be added to the Union’s active roster following receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa and occupy a U-22 initiative slot and an international roster slot. With this acquisition, Makhanya will be the Union’s first player under the league’s U-22 initiative.

The Union reportedly paid a $400,000 for the young center back.

“We’re excited to have signed Olwethu as the club’s first Under-22 Initiative signing. In a short amount of time, he rose from a second team player at his club, to earning the Defensive Rookie of the Year in the DStv Premiership,” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner. “He’s an athletic, explosive player who is able to play center back in a back four line, as well as a back three. His instincts on the field fit our aggressive style of play and we look forward to welcoming him to the club.”

Makhanya, 19, comes to Philadelphia from the DStv Premiership, South Africa’s first-tier league, where he played for Stellenbosch FC, making 20 appearances (19 starts). During his time at Stellenbosch FC, Makhanya registered three clean sheets, averaged 1.7 tackles per game, and made 3.9 clearances per game. Makhanya made four appearances (four starts) for Stellenbosch FC in the 2023 Nedbank Cup, South Africa’s domestic knock-out tournament, where the team made it to the semi-finals.