Rob McElhenney has explained why a player Wrexham signed in 2023 shares comparisons to NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Wrexham’s 2023 transfer window played a pivotal role in pushing Phil Parkinson’s men towards League One football.
Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds opted for quality over quantity as the Reds assembled a team that most sides in the division feared.
Ex-Premier League stars James McClean and Steven Fletcher made the shock move to the Racecourse Ground while experienced Championship midfielder George Evans, colossal centre-back Will Boyle and young goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo joined the club last summer.
Wrexham loaned Okonkwo from Arsenal on transfer deadline day following Ben Foster’s retirement, and the 22-year-old soon captured supporters hearts with his incredible displays between the sticks.
Rob McElhenney compares Arthur Okonkwo to Michael Jordan
After watching Okonkwo excel in goal for Wrexham, executive director Humphrey Ker is ‘desperate’ to sign him permanently following his release by the Gunners.
Parkinson has claimed it will take a while to agree on a deal as the 6 ft 6 shot-stopper is a wanted man. His impressive campaign, which earned him a place in the division’s Team of the Season, has attracted interest from Championship and European clubs.
Okonkwo is highly thought of by everyone associated with Wrexham, including Hollywood superstar McElhenney, who compared the goalkeeper to a young Michael Jordan.
Speaking on episode five of Welcome to Wrexham, the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star said: “He’s a Premier League level keeper who just happens to be young and doesn’t have a place on the Arsenal squad yet.
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“It would be as if it’s 1985 and the Chicago Bulls drafted Michael Jordan and they are like ‘Well you’re a 20-year-old kid’. Then the Philadelphia 76ers were like ‘Hey, guess what Chicago? We will just take him off your hands for like two or three years and then we’ll just build him up because he can start with us and we can send him back to you’.
“Then he comes to Philly, wins like three championships and they’re like ‘Great, we’re gonna start a dynasty’ but then Chicago are like ‘F*ck off we’re taking him back’. That’s exactly what it is!”
Is Arthur Okonkwo Premier League quality?
McElhenney believes Okonkwo is Premier League quality but given the options Arsenal have in the goalkeeping department, they felt they had no other choice but to release him.
The 22-year-old has even said himself that he’s at an age where he needs to be playing regular football and with the option to play for either Nigeria or England, the youngster has aspirations of playing international football.
To do so, Okonkwo will need to play in the Championship or Premier League however, it can be questioned whether he’s ready.
He’s an undoubtedly talented, young goalkeeper but the natural step in his development would be to play a campaign in League One, although it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Wrexham miss out and him flourish elsewhere.
Okonkwo has the potential to become a top-flight keeper, though there are still parts to his game – like his tendency to make a mistake – that need ironing out before he’s ready to make that step.