Wrexham’s transfer record was broken again in January and few would be surprised by another record-breaking deal this summer.
Wrexham have rapidly risen through the leagues under Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, and are now preparing for life in the Championship.
Achieving three promotions in a row has been, dare we say it, Hollywood stuff, but rival fans often say this is no fairytale story.
We can understand it to an extent, as Wrexham have invested money in this rise through wages and transfer fees.
Wrexham’s transfer record was broken in January 2022 as Ollie Palmer joined from AFC Wimbledon in a £300,000 swoop.
That record was broken again last summer as Ollie Rathbone and Modou Faal both joined for around £500,000.
Come January, Wrexham paid £2million for Sam Smith to absolutely obliterate the transfer record with a first-ever seven-figure deal.
Wrexham could break that record again this summer so let’s take a look at the transfer records of other Championship clubs.
Every Championship club’s record transfer
Birmingham City: Jay Stansfield, £20m, 2024
The Blues shattered the League One transfer record last summer, signing striker Stansfield from Fulham in a deal worth up to £20million, as noted by TalkSPORT. Stansfield scored 19 times to help Birmingham win the League One title last season.
Blackburn Rovers: Jordan Rhodes, £8m, 2012
Rovers signed Andrew Cole from Manchester United in 2001, paying around £7.6million for the treble-winning striker, according to The Guardian. That record was broken in 2012, as Rovers signed Jordan Rhodes from Huddersfield Town for £8million.
Bristol City: Tomas Kalas, £8m, 2019
The Robins paid £8million to sign defender Tomas Kalas from Chelsea in 2019, as noted by Sky Sports. The Czech defender now plays for Schalke in Germany after leaving Bristol City in 2023.
Charlton Athletic: Jason Euell, £4.75m, 2001
Charlton coughed up £4.75million to sign Jamaican star Euell from Wimbledon in 2001, as reported by The Guardian. The Addicks have gone nearly 25 years without breaking that record, having been much more frugal since their Premier League relegation.
Coventry City: Haji Wright, £7.7m, 2023
Craig Bellamy held Coventry’s record for more than 20 years having joined the Sky Blues from Norwich City for £6.5million in 2000. American forward Haji Wright broke that record, completing a £7.7million move from Antalyaspor in 2023, as noted by BBC Sport.
Derby County: Krystian Bielik, £9.5m, 2019
The Rams paid £9.5million to sign Krystian Bielik from Arsenal in 2019, according to The Telegraph. The Polish midfielder eclipsed Matej Vydra’s £8million move, though some aspects of the deal were add-ons.
Hull City: Ryan Mason, £13m, 2016
Ryan Mason became Hull City’s record signing in 2016, with Sky Sports reporting the fee as being £13million. Mason is the new West Bromwich Albion boss and will take on Hull in the Championship this season.
Ipswich Town: Jaden Philogene, £23.5m, 2025
The Tractor Boys spent in an attempt to stay in the Premier League, but still suffered relegation. Omari Hutchinson cost up to £22.5million last summer, according to BBC Sport, but that record lasted just a matter of months as The Athletic reported a fee of up to £23million for Aston Villa’s Jaden Philogene.
Leicester City: Youri Tielemans, £40m, 2019
Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans joined Leicester for a huge £40million fee in 2019, as noted by The Guardian. Tielemans turned an impressive loan move into a permanent one and is now shining for Aston Villa.
Middlesbrough: Britt Assombalonga, £15m, 2017
Boro splashed £15million on signing striker Assombalonga from Nottingham Forest after relegation from the Premier League in 2017, as reported by BBC Sport. Assombalonga couldn’t help Boro return to the Premier League, but scored 45 goals in four seasons for Boro.
Millwall: Camiel Neghli, unknown, 2025
Millwall spent £2.8million on striker Mihailo Ivanovic last summer, but broke that record to sign winger Camiel Neghli from Sparta Rotterdam in January. An exact fee is unknown, though BBC Sport made clear that the deal is worth more than £2.8million.
Norwich City: Gabriel Sara, £10m, 2022
Several Norwich signings arrived in the £7million to £9million range, including Christos Tzolis, Timm Klose and Milot Rashica. The Athletic noted that the 2022 deal to sign Gabriel Sara from Sao Paulo exceeded £10million, making him the Canaries’ record addition.
Oxford United: Ole Romeny, £1.6m, 2025
Oxford splashed the cash in January, signing forward Romeny from Utrecht for £1.6million, according to the Oxford Mail. Romeny only scored once after his arrival, but helped Gary Rowett’s side avoid relegation.
Portsmouth: Peter Crouch, £11m, 2008
Pompey made some big signings under Harry Redknapp, with giant striker Crouch the most expensive. The Telegraph reported that an £11million fee was agreed with Liverpool, as Crouch started his second spell at Fratton Park.
Preston North End: Milutin Osmajic, £2.15m, 2023
PNE snapped up Montenegro international striker Osmajic from Cadiz in 2023. Radio Cadiz reporter Ignacio de la Varga claimed that the deal was worth £2.15million, making him North End’s most expensive signing.
Queens Park Rangers: Chris Samba, £12.5m, 2013
Another Redknapp-inspired move, QPR agreed to pay £12.5million to sign defender Christopher Samba from Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013, as noted by BBC Sport. Samba returned to Anzhi just months later as QPR cut costs after relegation from the Premier League.
Sheffield United: Rhian Brewster, £23.5m, 2020
The Blades splashed the cash on Sander Berge in January 2020, but then set another new record in October 2020 by paying £23.5million to sign striker Rhian Brewster from Liverpool, as reported by Sky Sports.
Sheffield Wednesday: Jordan Rhodes, £10m, 2017
The only player on this list twice, striker Rhodes left Middlesbrough for Sheffield Wednesday in 2017. As reported by Sky Sports, the fee involved was around £10million, but the forward failed to live up to his price tag.
Southampton: Kamaldeen Sulemana, £22m, 2023
Southampton paid £22million to sign winger Kamaldeen Sulemana from Rennes in 2023, as reported by BBC Sport. The Ghanaian winger eclipsed Danny Ings’ £20million move from Liverpool, but he has only scored three league goals for the Saints.
Stoke City: Giannelli Imbula, £18.3m, 2016
Stoke’s official website confirms that midfielder Giannelli Imbula remains their record transfer after an £18.3million move from Porto in 2016. The DR Congo international has become a nomad, turning out for seven clubs since joining the Potters.
Swansea City: Andre Ayew, £18m, 2018
Swansea brought Ayew back to South Wales in January 2018, paying £18million to re-sign him from West Ham United, as noted by Sky Sports. Ayew couldn’t save Swansea from relegation and joined Fenerbahce on loan that summer.
Watford: Ismaila Sarr, £40m, 2019
Winger Sarr joined Watford from Rennes in 2019, with Sky Sports reporting the fee as £40million. Sarr is now shining for Crystal Palace and helped the Eagles win the FA Cup final against Manchester City in May.
West Bromwich Albion: Nacer Chadli, £13m, 2016
West Brom’s official website notes Nacer Chadli as their record signing, claiming an ‘undisclosed fee’. Reports from BBC Sport suggested a £13million deal for the Belgian midfielder, who arrived from Tottenham Hotspur.
Wrexham record v Championship rivals
There are some truly astronomical numbers in there.
Six of those records are above £20million, and only seven come in under £10million.
Wrexham’s £2million spend on Smith currently ranks second-bottom of the Championship, only ahead of Oxford United.
A number of clubs have gone more than a decade without breaking their transfer record, just as Wrexham did before Palmer’s arrival.
Wrexham may feel that more investment is needed to compete with top Championship clubs, but any new record this summer would surely fall under the eight-figure mark unless Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds back a huge deal.