Rangers supporters have delivered a definitive verdict on Olwethu Makhanya after a BBC pundit attempted to pour cold water on the South African centre-back’s skyrocketing market value.

The 22-year-old defender arrived at Ibrox from Philadelphia Union for an initial £3million fee during the summer transfer window. Since stepping straight into Derek McInnes’ starting lineup alongside Emmanuel Fernandez, his performances have been nothing short of sensational.

In September, data released by the CIES Football Observatory confirmed that Makhanya’s market value had already exploded to £12.3m (€14.3m) based on real match metrics, age profile, and contract duration.

However, after reports emerged linking Premier League sides Brentford and Sunderland with a potential 2027 move, BBC pundit Kevin Kyle brushed aside suggestions that the Rangers defender could command £25m, claiming he is not even worth £15m.

In response to those claims, Rangers News put the question directly to the support on TalkingPoints. The reaction was immediate and decisive.

Rangers star Olwethu Makhanya has been told he’s not even worth £15m, but we disagree!

How much would you be happy to sell him for in the summer?

Rangers fans on TalkingPoints believe Olwethu Makhanya is worth over £20m

In a sweeping poll result, a massive 59.35% of voters stated they would only be satisfied selling Makhanya for £20m. A further 27.74% valued him between £15m and £20m, meaning an overwhelming 87.09% of respondents completely rejected Kyle’s idea that he is worth less than £15m. Barely 2.5% of voters felt his fee should sit below £10m.

Within the TalkingPoints community, the debate quickly evolved from raw valuation figures into a broader philosophical discussion regarding Rangers‘ long-term transfer strategy and squad building. User georgeherriot11 emphasised the formidable leverage the club currently holds, noting that because Makhanya is locked into a long-term contract and anchors the starting XI every week, any interested suitor would have to pay an enormous premium to test the board’s resolve.

That sentiment was echoed by Rangers News’ Pranav Shahaney, who pointed out that the defender’s deal running all the way through 2031 means Rangers are firmly in the driver’s seat. However, opinions fractured when weighing the sheer temptation of cashing in on a massive windfall.

Shahaney raised the perspective that securing a remarkable sevenfold profit after just a single season might be an offer too lucrative to turn down, suggesting even manager McInnes might see the financial logic if a monster bid arrives. On the flip side, marlinsteven1962 pushed back strongly against a quick exit, arguing that selling standout performers after only one year runs counter to the sustainable squad-building model required to consistently challenge for and win league titles.

Weighing in on the timing of any potential exit, marlinsteven1962 added that it would be far wiser to let the current campaign fully play out and keep the centre-back at Ibrox for at least another year before entertaining offers.

Other supporters, such as jamme1ne, voiced a growing fatigue with English clubs attempting to lowball Scottish giants, arguing that the modern market demands upwards of £20m plus substantial add-ons for elite defensive players. Ultimately, as therealjag pointed out, while the hype is justified, a handful of stellar months does not automatically crown a player with a £20m price tag before silverware has been secured, leaving fans firmly agreed that Makhanya’s story at Rangers is only beginning.

The Rangers fanbase’s multi-million-pound estimation is not just born out of emotion – the Scottish Premiership data for the 2026-27 campaign firmly backs up his elite impact.

According to statistics from FotMob, Makhanya boasts a highly impressive 7.47 average rating across his 720 minutes played, ranking him among the top three performers in the entire Rangers squad alongside Fernandez (7.66) and Lawrence Shankland (7.53).

In possession, Makhanya’s composure has given McInnes a progressive outlet from deep, averaging 53.8 accurate passes from 90 (second only to Cameron Devlin’s 56.1) and 4.0 accurate long balls per 90 (only behind Nicolas Raskin and Fernandez).

Defensively, his output is equally dominant. The South African averages 7.9 total defensive contributions per 90, completing 4.8 clearances and topping the club’s defensive charts with 0.6 blocks per 90.

With cold, hard statistics supporting his reputation and a deal secured until 2031, Rangers fans have made it clear: any English suitor hoping to lure Makhanya away will need to bring serious record-breaking money to the table.