Wrexham made a number of signings over the summer but few would argue with goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo being the top addition.
Wrexham made a huge leap from the National League to League One with back-to-back promotions.
Phil Parkinson masterminded a brilliant rise for Wrexham but that certainly meant striking plenty of deals in the summer transfer window.
Rob McElhenney was gutted to see Luke Young leave but Wrexham had to retool the squad and prepare for a major jump in quality to League One.
11 signings have been made since Wrexham’s promotion; eight in the summer transfer window and three more as free agents after the deadline.
The business has been pretty good; Wrexham sit second in League One and Parkinson is dreaming of a journey to the Premier League.
Phil Parkinson hails Arthur Okonkwo
Wrexham started the summer window with a bang.
Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was exceptional on loan at Wrexham last season and he was available as his Arsenal contract came to an end.
Okonkwo had many suitors but decided to sign for Wrexham on a permanent basis in a huge coup.
Wrexham have seen Okonkwo continue to shine this season and Phil Parkinson has now hailed his displays.
Speaking on Men in Blazers, Parkinson suggested that Okonkwo is a truly ‘perfect’ signing for Wrexham.
Parkinson pointed to Okonkwo’s current brilliance alongside his potential to get even better as Wrexham aim to move up through the leagues.
Parkinson added that Okonkwo is a big difference maker and could go ‘right to the top’, backing him as an ‘immense’ player – but doesn’t want any offers for him in January.
Okonkwo is out injured for now anyway but Parkinson still wants to fend off any potential suitors.
“He’s a perfect signing for the profile of Wrexham football club,” said Parkinson.
“He’s someone who is great now but, as the club develops, will stay on the journey with us and will be good enough to progress.
“He’s got the ability to make difficult saves look easy. We see it all the time in training, he can produce match-winning saves and key moments in games.
“How far can Arthur go? Well, I’ve got a lot of faith in Arthur, I think he could go right to the top. I don’t want to say it too loudly, we don’t need bids in January for him, but he’s an immense goalkeeper and character,” he added.
Okonkwo may face a huge decision in 2025
Okonkwo had a big call to make over the summer upon leaving Arsenal.
Other clubs will have certainly made offers to him but he decided to commit to Wrexham and stay on this incredible journey.
That is Okonkwo’s club future settled for the foreseeable future with Wrexham unlikely to entertain any offers for him any time soon.
Okonkwo’s international future must still be determined though amid rumours about his future.
Nigeria have made contact with Okonkwo according to reports earlier this season as they attempt to convince him into an international switch.
Okonkwo will surely weigh up this situation heading into 2025 as he considers whether to stick with England and hope for a call up down the line, or switch to Nigeria and play straight away.