Recent changes and January plans mean at least one player will need to be removed from Wrexham’s Championship squad in 2026.
Phil Parkinson has confirmed this week that Ollie Rathbone is back from injury and has been added to Wrexham’s Championship squad, taking the total number of players registered up to 25, which is the limit.
However, it has been reported this week that Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac will allow Wrexham to sign a striker in January.
Another signing during the winter window means at least one player from the current group needs to be moved out. Here are three potential options.
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Three players who could be dropped from Wrexham Championship squad in 2026
Elliot Lee
Despite finishing 2024/25 as their top goalscorer, it emerged over the summer that Elliot Lee was allowed to leave Wrexham.
The midfielder remained at the Racecourse Ground, but he’s yet to make a single Championship appearance and has been left out of Parkinson’s last five matchday squads.
It’s become apparent that Lee is no longer a key figure in the manager’s eyes, and the aforementioned return of Rathbone will only push him further down the pecking order.
Callum Burton
Danny Ward was Wrexham’s number one goalkeeper when the 2025/26 season began, but he suffered a long-term injury during a 2-0 win over Millwall.
In turn, he was initially left out of the Championship squad, but Parkinson will want him back in 2026 when he’s recovered.
Arthur Okonkwo is the established number two, and after signing 20-year-old Reuben Egan, who does not need to be registered due to his age, it’s likely we will see Callum Burton make way for Ward next year.
Matty James
The removals of Lee and Burton would give Wrexham enough room to sign a new striker and add Ward back into the squad.
Should the Red Dragons wish to make more than one signing in the winter window, however, another player will need to make way.
Matty James has performed fairly well this season, but he’s lost his starting place in the last four matches and has fallen down the pecking order.
Parkinson now only plays two sitting midfielders, with Rathbone, George Dobson, Ben Sheaf and summer addition George Thomason able to fill those roles, while Lewis O’Brien can also drop deeper if needed.
A case could be made that James deserves to feature ahead of Thomason, but it’s unlikely Wrexham will spend over £1m on a player and then drop him six months later.