Wrexham under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have done some brilliant things in the last few years, spending their share of money along the way too.
Wrexham’s five most expensive players of all time all joined the club during this 2024/25 season. And so far it’s proving to be money well spent for the Dragons who sit in 2nd place of the League One table.
Last time out, Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham drew 0-0 with Wigan Athletic to retain their spot in 2nd and move one point ahead of Wycombe Wanderers in third with just four games left to play.
Striker Sam Smith joined Wrexham in a £2million deal in the winter transfer window to become the club’s most expensive player of all time: he’s since scored five goals in 14 League One games for the Dragons.
The likes of Mo Faal and Ryan Longman also cost Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney transfer fees this season but it’s not all been money well spent for Wrexham, who also signed Jay Rodriguez in January for a substantial fee, albeit an undisclosed one.
But perhaps the best bit of Wrexham’s transfer business in 2024/25 cost the owners not a single dime.
Arthur Okonkwo signing has proved influential for Wrexham
Former Arsenal youngster Arthur Okonkwo returned to Wrexham on a permanent deal last summer after spending the 2023/24 season on loan at the Racecourse, where he featured 36 times in League Two. He’s since featured 29 times in League One this time round keeping 17 clean sheets which is the joint-most in the division.
The 23-year-old has emerged as one of the most exciting young shot-stoppers in the Football League and Wrexham might be rubbing their hands at the idea of potentially cashing in on Okonkwo in years to come, with nothing but profit on the horizon for the Dragons.
For all the money that Reynolds and McElhenney have pumped into the club, the club’s ability to scour the free agent market and pick out players like Okonkwo is a great sign.
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Arthur Okonkwo’s 24/25 stats vs 23/24 at Wrexham
As Wrexham have made the step up to League One, they’ve improved the squad with equal quality which is represented by their current league position.
But the likes of Okonkwo has managed to maintain the same level of quality too, settling into League One with ease, and his stats show just that…
| Statistic | Okonkwo in 23/24 | Okonkwo in 24/25 |
| Games | 36 | 29 |
| Clean sheets | 14 | 17 |
| Goals conceded | 28 | 20 |
| Saves | 108 | 67 |
| Save % | 78 | 76 |
| Punches | 15 | 11 |
Should Wrexham be promoted to the Championship this season then Parkinson will be hoping that Okonkwo and co can maintain their personal trajectory and in turn help Wrexham maintain their overall trajectory.
Their journey has only just begun but promotion this season isn’t guaranteed. Wrexham return to action against Bristol Rovers on Friday.