Wrexham are really going for it this season in the transfer market, but how does their summer spending compare to their next opponents, Southampton?
At every level over the last four years, Wrexham have put the financial muscle of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds to good use by spending big and achieving success on the pitch.
They’re now taking another massive step this season with a return to the second tier for the first time in 43 years. It’ll be by far the toughest test of the Rob and Ryan era at Wrexham, but they’re preparing in the best possible way.
A slew of new signings have bolstered Phil Parkinson’s squad and popular opinion has turned from predicting a relegation battle for the Red Dragons, to murmurs of an outside shot at promotion now.
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Wrexham set to outspend Southampton this summer
There’s no denying that Wrexham are trying to disrupt the Championship this season. They’re not content with simply making up the numbers and, like Birmingham City, are going all out to make an impact in 2025/26.
We’ve seen Wrexham bring in seven new signings this summer so far, with Kieffer Moore’s switch now imminent, too.
In total, the Red Dragons have spent roughly £9.1m, with a further £2m outlay expected for Moore.
| Player | Fee | From |
| Ryan Hardie | £718k | Plymouth Argyle |
| Danny Ward | Free | Leicester City |
| Liberato Cacace | £2.17m | Empoli |
| George Thomason | £1.22m | Bolton Wanderers |
| Josh Windass | Free | Sheffield Wednesday |
| Lewis O’Brien | £3m | Nottingham Forest |
| Conor Coady | £2m | Leicester City |
| Kieffer Moore | £2m? | Sheffield United |
While Wrexham will be fearful of Southampton ahead of the opening day fixture, the Saints are lagging behind the Welsh outfit in the transfer market.
Southampton have added just two players to their squad this summer, with Damion Downs and Joshua Quarshie coming in at a combined cost of almost exactly £10m.
So, while the South Coast club are the bigger spenders for now, Wrexham will surpass them soon. Plus, it’s worth remembering Wrexham may also be about to spend £7.5m on Nathan Broadhead, too.
Obviously, spending more money doesn’t equate to having more quality and doesn’t come with any guarantees of success. But, it does show that Wrexham are well and truly mixing it with the big boys when it comes to the transfer market this summer.
- READ MORE: Wrexham join Birmingham City in race to sign teenage Premier League attacker after Championship loan
Wrexham continue to operate at a loss
What is interesting is that Wrexham are once again failing to make any money in the transfer market. Year after year, the club releases players who are no longer part of Parkinson’s plans, very rarely getting a fee for those they let go.
Wrexham released a number of players this summer, including Mark Howard and Steven Fletcher. Meanwhile, Wrexham legend Paul Mullin departed on loan.
In fact, since Rob and Ryan took over, the Red Dragons have not sold a single player for a fee. Clearly, money is no object for the Wrexham owners, who can afford to sign short-term and hope the club evolves quickly enough that shedding the fringe players for nothing doesn’t impact the bank balance.
For reference, Southampton have earned roughly £36.3m from transfers already this summer, far outweighing their expenditure. You’d expect the Saints to spend some more before the window closes, then.