Wrexham have secured a first signing of the summer transfer window having landed a major coup with the return of goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo.
Once the promotion celebrations had subsided a little in April, the attention quickly turned towards the summer transfer window.
Wrexham fans were under no illusions – new signings were needed at the STōK Cae Ras after winning promotion to League One.
Achieving back-to-back promotions means Wrexham need to somewhat play catch-up in order to compete at League One level.
Wrexham allowed some solid veterans to leave the club at the end of their contracts, paving the way for new signings to arrive this summer.
Fans have been waiting patiently for new signings but the first one was worth the wait.
Arthur Okonkwo on Wrexham squad number
Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was confirmed as a permanent Wrexham player last weekend.
Okonkwo excelled on loan at Wrexham last season and will have certainly found himself in demand as his Arsenal contract expired this summer.
Many fans didn’t think a permanent return was possible; even former Wrexham striker Andy Morrell didn’t think Okonkwo would be back.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have managed to get the deal done though, handing Okonkwo a three-year deal to return to the club.
Okonkwo’s return has certainly generated excitement among Wrexham fans, who no doubt can’t wait to see him in action again next season.
Okonkwo has been discussing his move and one conversation highlighted his interest in switching his shirt number at Wrexham.
The stopper wore the number 33 shirt last season, the same number he held in the Arsenal first team.
As seen on Wrexham’s official YouTube channel, Head of Medical Kevin Mulholland asked Okonkwo whether he would be keeping the number 33 shirt, highlighting that Okonkwo had a ‘good season’ wearing that number last term.
Okonkwo agreed but did admit that he has one eye on the number one jersey, admitting that it would be ‘nice’ to become Wrexham’s true number one.
“Yeah, but… number one is nice,” said Okonkwo. “I don’t know, I’ll have a think about it.”
Number one available at Wrexham
All goalkeepers would probably love to wear the number one shirt and that possibility has now opened up for Okonkwo.
Wrexham’s number one on the squad list last season was Rob Lainton, but he has now left the club at the end of his contract this summer.
It would be a surprise to see Mark Howard or Luke McNicholas move to take that shirt instead, so Okonkwo is surely the favourite.
Okonkwo may be tempted to keep number 33; it’s a number he has held at Arsenal and Wrexham, serving him well so far.
Yet having now signed a permanent deal to become Wrexham’s first-choice stopper, Okonkwo will surely want that number one shirt for years to come.