Phil Parkinson has been hard at work in the transfer window trying to get Wrexham ready for their first Championship campaign in over 40 years.
Wrexham made it record back-to-back-to-back promotions in 2024/25, securing promotion from League One despite a supercomputer tipping them to finish closer to the relegation zone.
This swift ascent up the EFL ladder has, however, meant that plenty of money is needed to be spent by owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to build a Championship-ready squad. Rob and Ryan have been told to sign between six to nine this summer in order to do that, signing their first player of the window on June 16.
Wrexham confirmed the signing of Ryan Hardie from Plymouth Argyle, adding some much needed Championship experience to the ranks.
Here’s everything fans need to know about Phil Parkinson‘s latest signing.
When was Ryan Hardie born?
Hardie was born on March 17 1997, in Stranraer, Scotland. The striker is 28 years old at the time of writing, and has been playing senior football for 11 years.
Height
Ryan Hardie’s height is 1.88m (6 foot 2 inches).
Ryan Hardie social media
Fans can follow Hardie on a number of different social media platforms, including Instagram where he has 40.3k followers and X/Twitter where he has 37.4k followers. Hardie’s social media channels are:
- Instagram – @ryanhardie
- X/Twitter – @Ryanhardie9
Ryan Hardie’s transfer to Wrexham from Plymouth
After chasing Hardie throughout the winter transfer window, Parkinson and Wrexham finally got their man in June 2025.
The striker put pen to paper on a three-year deal at the Racecourse Ground, with Wrexham taking advantage of his release clause being slashed from £2m to £700,000 thanks to Plymouth’s relegation from the Championship.
Speaking about the move, Hardie said: “I’m delighted to get the move done, I’m really happy to get it done so early and I cannot wait to get going.
“To get a full pre-season will be a massive benefit, to get integrated into the squad and learn the way the manager plays and get to know everyone will be important.
“The last couple of seasons, it’s been good getting experience in the EFL Championship and it’s experience I can lean on now. I’ve enjoyed playing there, and I’ve managed to score a few goals, so hopefully that can continue this season.
“I love how family-oriented the Club is, the community is all together and it really is a one-club City. Everything is to do with the football, and I’m really excited to be a part of that – I’ll give everything I’ve got for the badge.”
Ryan Hardie’s record in the Championship
It’s clear that Wrexham have been on the lookout for players with Championship experience this summer, and Hardie fits that bill.
The striker spent the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons in England’s second division, hitting double figures in both.
| Stat | Hardie’s record in Championship |
| Games | 77 |
| Goals | 22 |
| Assists | 7 |
Despite suffering relegation in 2024/25, Hardie still acquitted himself well in front of goal, scoring 10 and assisting a further three for his teammates in 37 appearances.