Philadelphia Union has exercised its contract option for defender Olwethu Makhanya, securing his place on the team through the 2026 and 2027 Major League Soccer (MLS) seasons.
“Olwethu had an outstanding year in his first full season in MLS. Demonstrating that he is an important part of our defensive line, he has shown maturity, consistency, and leadership at just 21 years old,” said Philadelphia Union head coach Bradley Carnell. “His rapid development is a clear indication of how high his ceiling can be, and we believe he will continue to develop and have a significant impact with the club in the future.”
In 2025, Makhanya, a 21-year-old center back from South Africa, made an immediate impact in MLS. He recorded his first appearance, start, goal, and trophy with the Union this season. After two seasons with Union II and reaching the MLS NEXT Pro Cup, he started 23 out of 29 matches for the first team and played a total of 2,145 minutes. Makhanya led the team with 45 clearances, won 64.3 percent of aerial duels, and contributed to a defense that registered 14 clean sheets while conceding only 35 goals—the best mark in the league. His lone goal was a match-winner against Montreal on July 16 and was one of several key moments during Philadelphia’s Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign.
Makhanya finished the regular season ranked 13th on MLS’s Under-22 list for 2025 and played a crucial role as Philadelphia advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
The club announced it would exercise its option for Makhanya on November 26, extending his contract through at least the next two seasons.
