Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have made some incredible signings in their time as the owners of Wrexham, with several of these being imperative to their rise through the English pyramid.
Under their ownership they have climbed from the National League to the Championship with an unprecedented three consecutive promotions.
Fans of the Welsh club got excited this summer as Wrexham spent £33 million on 13 signings that have proved to be crucial to the team in their Championship campaign.
While this may be the case, it was a signing in 2023 that truly excited both Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, due to the impact they believed he would have on the team both on and off the pitch, with this seemingly coming true in the last two seasons.
James McClean’s signing for Wrexham truly excited Ryan Reynolds
Wrexham signed James McClean from Wigan Athletic during the summer of 2023, and it was a transfer signalling the intent of the club.
At the time of his arrival, Wrexham had just won promotion out of the National League and were set to compete in League Two, and landing a player of McClean’s quality was significant.
The former Republic of Ireland international had featured heavily in the Premier League and Championship for the likes of Sunderland, West Brom and Stoke City.
This quality and the leadership of the now Wrexham captain truly excited Ryan Reynolds, as he explained to Sky Sports at the time.
He said: “We’re super excited, not just because he is obviously an enormous talent and a huge addition to the team; he is a leader.
“He is one of those guys you speak to, and you are immediately filled with confidence, and you understand that he understands what is ahead of him and the job that he needs to do.
“He is going to be amazing in the locker room, I think; he brings a tonne of experience.
“The heads of the guys in the locker room, they are just a humility to them; they work really hard, they take this all deadly seriously, and James is no different, and I can’t wait to have him here.”
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James McClean’s impact at Wrexham
Ryan Reynolds knew exactly what he was talking about right from that first interview regarding James McClean, as the former Derry City player has assumed the role of captain at the club, as his leadership qualities have shone through.
Two years on, McClean has made 99 appearances, scored eight goals and provided two assists.
He has helped the club achieve two of their three promotions, and he looks set to continue at the club for the next couple of years, as he aims to deliver the Red Dragons to the Premier League, if possible.
The 36-year-old’s contract at the Racecourse Ground was due to expire at the end of June 2026; however, McClean signed a contract extension in August, which keeps him around until the end of 2026/27.
At that point he will be nearly 40, and time will tell if he earns another contract, as despite him being arguably the fittest player in the team, time does catch up with everybody.