Wrexham have made their first signing of the 2025 summer transfer window, landing Ryan Hardie from Plymouth Argyle.
After interest dating back to January of this year, the Red Dragons finally got their man this week.
Ryan Hardie joined Wrexham on June 16, becoming the club’s first signing since winning promotion to the Championship.
Plymouth fans have reacted to the transfer, seeing their top scoring striker from 2024/25 depart.
Hardie could be perfect for Wrexham and we have now taken a look at the three main things learned from the transfer.
Wrexham signing Ryan Hardie will come as surprise to fans
The striker’s arrival should be a welcome one given his goal return in the Championship last season.
But the deal being announced at this stage of the window may come as a shock to many supporters.
Since Parkinson arrived in Wales, Wrexham have been cautious about rushing into transfers.
In fact, apart from 2024, all of the Red Dragons’ summer transfer business has started in July of each year.
Arthur Okonkwo was the only exception, arriving on June 22. However, it’s easy to see why that deal was done earlier as he’d just spent a year on loan at the club.
Hardie is still the earliest signing completed in the Parkinson era, perhaps suggesting the club will be much quicker at getting deals over the line in this window, unlike January when the bulk of their business was done on the 31st of the month.
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Phil Parkinson eyes Championship experience
It emerged in early May that Wrexham wanted to sign players with Championship experience to improve their forward line and Parkinson has stuck to that plan.
Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer have never played in the competition, while the likes of Sam Smith and Modou Faal don’t have great records in the second tier.
However, unlike the aforementioned stars, Hardie has been solid in the second tier of English football.
Even when playing in a poor side who suffered relegation, he scored 10 league goals last term – two more than any Wrexham striker despite playing in the league above.
Wrexham looking at bargain transfers
Before the window had even opened, Shaun Harvey hinted Wrexham would sign free agents as they represent the best value.
A free agent deal hasn’t been confirmed just yet, but it’s clear the club are trying to spend their money wisely.
Wrexham saved £1.3m on Hardie, who originally had a £2m release clause that was slashed after Plymouth’s relegation.
It should prove to be a bargain move and could be a sign of things to come for the remainder of the summer.