Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds backed Wrexham heavily in the 2025 winter transfer window.
Likely to the disappointment of rival fans, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ commitment to Wrexham does not appear to be wavering, nearly four years on from their purchase of the club.
Success has littered the Hollywood duo’s reign and a third straight promotion remains within their grasp.
A spot in the 2024/25 play-offs seems all-but nailed on at this stage, but that is seemingly not enough for the North Americans, who once again spent big in the most recent transfer window.
After sanctioning two record signings over the summer, Wrexham broke their transfer record once more this winter with the addition of 11-goal striker Sam Smith from Reading.
The Welsh outfit are now reportedly paying Jay Rodriguez £15,000-a-week after his transfer from Burnley as well.
Prior to their striker ranks being improved, however, Wrexham signed Ryan Longman for £500,000 from Championship outfit Hull City.
Wrexham move for Ryan Longman was genius
Half a million pounds is not a small chunk of change for a club like Wrexham and Longman is now their third-most expensive addition of all time behind Smith and Modou Faal.
When he arrived at the club, it did, in all honesty, seem like a pretty bizarre move for a number of reasons.
Firstly, a new number nine was clearly the priority and when Longman was announced, Wrexham had not signed a striker.
Secondly, given he is a natural wide midfielder/winger, there didn’t seem to be a natural place in Phil Parkinson’s 3-5-2 for the 24-year-old.
However, two weeks on from his arrival on January 24th, Wrexham’s move for Longman already looks like a stroke of genius.
Parkinson had no real reason to be signing a winger but it could end up proving to be one of the best bits of business conducted by the club in 2024/25.
Phil Parkinson praised Ryan Longman
Ryan Barnett has been one of Wrexham’s best players this term, producing two goals and eight assists from right-wing-back.
However, despite already having two players available as cover, Parkinson has opted to start deploying Longman as the new backup to Barnett.
It’s a move that paid off instantly, with the former Hull man coming off the bench to set up Elliot Lee’s winner against Crawley Town last week.
He then started in the EFL Trophy in midweek and produced two superb assists, meaning he now has three in just 102 minutes of action for his new team.
Speaking about Longman recently, as per Leader Live, Parkinson praised the versatile winger for his impact off the bench.
He said: “I was really pleased for the substitutes.
“Ryan Longman coming on and producing moments of quality. That’s what we brought him in for and obviously Elliot getting a goal.”