Wrexham midfielder George Dobson has played a key role under Phil Parkinson this season, but could so easily have been playing in Hungary instead.
Wrexham simply had to make big changes to Phil Parkinson’s squad last summer.
Back-to-back promotions were an incredible feat, but Wrexham were still carrying several players from the National League days.
Adding more quality to Parkinson’s squad was paramount, and Wrexham pulled off a deal for a tried-and-tested League One ace.
George Dobson completed a move to Wrexham back in July, reuniting with Parkinson, having worked together at Sunderland.
Dobson picked up an injury against Burton Albion on Saturday but has played a key role throughout the season with 37 appearances from a possible 41 in League One.
George Dobson almost moved to Hungary
Wrexham pounced to sign Dobson as his Charlton Athletic contract came to an end.
The 27-year-old had been a League One regular for the Addicks, so he represented something of a coup for Wrexham.
Dobson’s transfer situation was a little complex, though, as he had actually signed a pre-contract agreement to leave Charlton.
Dobson was targeted by Hungarian side Fehervar during the January transfer window, but Charlton wouldn’t allow him to leave at that point in the season.
February saw Fehervar announce a pre-contract agreement with Dobson, complete with the midfielder posing with their shirt.
Fehervar claimed that a deal had been in place to sign Dobson in January, but Charlton pulled the plug.
The Hungarian side were delighted to sign Dobson, but that deal obviously didn’t go through, given that he joined Wrexham in the end.
The South London Press reported in July that Dobson had pulled out of the move to Hungary for personal reasons.
Fehervar confirmed Dobson’s decision, accepting the midfielder’s request to annul the deal.
That paved the way for Wrexham to sign Dobson, handing Parkinson a major addition to his midfield options.
Fehervar sit eighth in Hungary’s top flight, 22 points off league leaders Puskas Akademia and nine points off bottom club Kecskemet.
Personal reasons appeared to be a key factor in Dobson’s decision, but the football side has certainly worked out as Wrexham push for promotion.
Why George Dobson quit Charlton Athletic
Wrexham fans may have been baffled to learn of Dobson’s availability in the first place.
Dobson racked up 126 League One appearances for Charlton, and his consistent availability was a major factor in his success at The Valley.
Dobson later told The Mirror that Charlton did offer him a new deal – but only proposed the wages of a squad player, despite him being club captain.
Nathan Jones seemingly didn’t have huge plans for Dobson going forward, so he decided to depart South London and, eventually, join Wrexham.
“It was in January time [talks started]. I was really happy at Charlton at the time, but I was offered what I was told was a squad player’s deal because that was how [the club] saw me going forward. I was club captain at the time and obviously I didn’t want to sign that,” said Dobson.
“I then got a really good offer from Fehervar and it was a hard one to turn down with a young family so I signed a pre-contract. That was for the summer but the Hungarian window was still open in February. They agreed a deal to move there and then but after Charlton lost a game, Nathan Jones pulled the plug and said I wasn’t going anywhere,” he added.
Wrexham have certainly benefited from Dobson’s 2024 contract debacle and will be delighted that he is playing a key role in North Wales rather than in Hungary right now.