Rangers acclaim as Makhanya and £4m man soar in key transfer report
Rangers' summer recruitment has received significant endorsement from TransferRoom, the global transfer platform connecting over 800 clubs across 130 leagues worldwide, which has identified Olwethu Makhanya and Vanja Dragojevic as two of the club's most promising acquisitions.
The South African defender Makhanya, who joined from Philadelphia Union for £3 million, and Serbian midfielder Dragojevic, signed from Partizan Belgrade for £4.2 million, have been singled out for their exceptional potential in a comprehensive market analysis by the platform, which has facilitated over 9,500 successful transfers since its 2017 launch.
Exceptional potential ratings
According to TransferRoom's metrics, the average rating for a Scottish Premiership starter stands at 71.9. However, Dragojevic carries a potential rating of 87.1, representing a remarkable increase of 15.2 points and marking him as the player with the highest growth trajectory among recent arrivals.
The 20-year-old midfielder captained Partizan throughout the 2025/26 season despite his youth, making 42 appearances across all competitions and scoring four goals. His rapid ascent from a loan spell at FK Teleoptik to becoming Partizan's captain attracted interest from Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund before Rangers secured his signature. The Serbian international, who holds two senior caps for his country, has been patient in his early Ibrox career but demonstrated his quality with a stunning goal in the Premier Sports Cup victory over St Mirren earlier this season.
Makhanya, rated at 86.7 before his explosive impact in Glasgow, has vindicated Rangers' £3 million investment following an impressive spell in Major League Soccer. The defender was Philadelphia Union's first-ever U-22 Initiative signing when he arrived from Stellenbosch FC in July 2023, and played a pivotal role in their 2025 Supporters' Shield triumph.
Forming a formidable defensive partnership with veteran Jacob Glesnes under coach Bradley Carnell, Makhanya anchored a backline that conceded a league-low 35 goals and recorded 14 clean sheets during Philadelphia's championship-winning campaign. His performances also earned him selection for South Africa's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad by manager Hugo Broos, though he did not feature during the tournament.
Platform's growing influence
Rangers have maintained a relationship with TransferRoom since the Ross Wilson era, with their recruitment team continuing to utilise the platform's online matching system and in-person networking events. The January signing of Ryan Naderi, who joined from Hansa Rostock for £4.7 million as the club's fourth acquisition of that transfer window, was brokered through the platform.
Shifting market priorities
TransferRoom's latest analysis reveals a significant shift in transfer market priorities across European football. Total spending on midfielders surged 54 per cent to €3.21 billion, with investment in defensive midfielders soaring by 191 per cent year-on-year to €1.38 billion. The average transfer fee for players in that position rose 156 per cent to €9.9 million, the highest of any position.
By contrast, expenditure on attacking players declined, with spending on forwards dropping 14 per cent and investment in wingers falling by 8 per cent. The data suggests clubs are placing greater strategic value on players capable of controlling tempo, winning possession and providing tactical balance.
The emphasis on midfield reinforcement aligns with Rangers' recent recruitment strategy as they seek to close the gap on rivals Celtic, who won the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership title with 92 points, finishing 17 points ahead of Rangers' 75-point total.
As clubs increasingly view elite defensive midfielders as cornerstones of squad building, the potential ratings assigned to Dragojevic and Makhanya suggest Rangers may have secured two players whose market value could appreciate significantly in the coming seasons.
