Wrexham have a first January signing signed, sealed and delivered with Phil Parkinson adding a key signing to his ranks.
Wrexham fans have been waiting for new signings whilst seeing so many players linked with moves to the STōK Cae Ras.
Phil Parkinson likes to do his January business late but Wrexham have now confirmed a signing.
Wrexham have snapped up Ryan Longman, bringing the Hull City utility man to North Wales in a deal worth around £500,000.
Oxford United were allegedly outbid on Longman with Wrexham ensuring that he become Parkinson’s latest addition.
Capable of playing as a winger, wing back or even as a striker, Longman will offer great versatility at Wrexham.
Ryan Longman on Wrexham’s Andy Cannon
Longman will go straight into contention for a spot in the Wrexham squad to face Stevenage on Tuesday night.
Wrexham’s free weekend will have just given Longman some time to breathe and settle in rather than being thrown straight into action.
Longman does have some familiar faces to call upon at Wrexham though, which will aid his settling in period.
Longman played with George Dobson and Ollie Palmer at AFC Wimbledon, whilst he also crossed paths with Andy Cannon at Hull City.
Cannon and Longman only actually played four games together as the midfielder joined Wrexham midway through Longman’s first season at the club.
The pair seemed to strike up a strong bond though with Longman noting their connection whilst speaking to Wrexham’s official YouTube channel.
When asked how long he has been keeping tabs on Wrexham, Longman admitted that he has had an eye on the club ever since Cannon joined.
Longman understood the magnitude of Cannon dropping from the Championship to League One and tracked Wrexham ever since.
Longman added that he thinks Cannon fell in love with the club and certainly hasn’t regretted his decision.
“Do you know what it was, it was when Andy Cannon came here in the National League,” said Longman.
“He was at Hull with me and I think he made a massive decision, I remember it so clearly, he made a big decision to go from the Championship to National League but obviously he believed in the project with the gaffer here as well.
“Obviously, he fell in love with it and I’m pretty sure he hasn’t regretted what he’s done, so when he made the move here, then I kind of kept my eye on Wrexham,” he added.
Andy Cannon praised Ryan Longman at Hull City
Cannon and Longman only briefly played together at Hull but the now-Wrexham midfielder seemingly saw promising signs.
Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail after a pre-season friendly in 2021, Cannon praised Longman for a ‘superb’ performance.
Cannon added that Longman looked a ‘very good player’ early on at Hull and nearly four years later, they are now back together again.
“Longy was superb down the line, I think he caused them problems for quite a bit of the game,” Cannon said.
“He looks a very good player – he cut in, I shouted for him to set me and I just let it go, and luckily it went top corner. I got a bit carried away for a pre-season goal! But hopefully I can do that in the league coming up,” he added.
Longman will lean on those familiar faces in his early days at Wrexham and will look to make a fast start after finalising his move on Friday.