Philadelphia Union have rejected an offer from a European club for defender Olwethu Makhanya. The central defender is currently in Mexico with the South African national team preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

What happened?

Makhanya's performances have attracted interest from clubs in Europe despite Philadelphia's disappointing form this campaign.

Why it matters for Philadelphia Union

The 21-year-old has been a key figure in the Philadelphia back-line over the last two seasons, including helping the side win the Supporters' Shield under Bradley Carnell.

Current context

As of June 29, 2026, Philadelphia Union is sitting at the top of the Major League Soccer standings with 66 points from 34 games, having scored 57 goals and conceded 35. Their recent form has been LWWWL, with their last result being a 2-1 win over CF Montreal on April 11, 2026. Their next fixture is against New York Red Bulls at home on July 22, 2026. | Category | Value | | --- | --- | | League standing | 1st in Major League Soccer | | Goals this season | 57 scored, 35 conceded | | Last result | CF Montreal 1-2 Philadelphia Union | | Recent form | 1W-0D-2L | | Next fixture | vs New York Red Bulls (at home, 2026-07-22) | The offer from the Belgian top-flight side did not meet Philadelphia Union's valuation of Makhanya, whose contract with the team expires in 2027.