Wrexham have completed summer signing number two after announcing the signature of free agent goalkeeper Danny Ward.
July is here, and Wrexham’s transfer window is set to ramp up.
Ryan Hardie joined Wrexham in June, with the striker completing a move from Plymouth Argyle.
Fans have been waiting for signing number two, and saw reports suggesting that Danny Ward was undergoing a Wrexham medical on Monday.
Ward had been released by Leicester City, and Wrexham have pounced to bring the Welsh stopper back to the STōK Cae Ras.
Danny Ward reacts to Wrexham transfer
Wrexham have a superb first-choice stopper in Arthur Okonkwo, and backup stopper Callum Burton showed his quality in limited action last season.
Phil Parkinson still wanted another goalkeeper, though, as Mark Howard, Brad Foster and Liam Hall were all released at the end of their contracts.
Ward has now been snapped up to compete with Okonkwo, signing a two-year deal to make an emotional return to Wrexham.
Ward left Wrexham for Liverpool in 2012, departing his hometown club for a big move to Anfield as a youngster.
Now returning to Wrexham with the club in the Championship, Ward has reflected on his homecoming.
Ward has told Wrexham’s official website that it’s an ‘amazing feeling’ to be back at Wrexham, especially as it’s such an ‘exciting’ period under Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
Ward added that he wants to repay Wrexham’s faith in him as a youngster as he finally prepares for first-team action with his hometown club.
“It’s an exciting time and an amazing feeling to be back at the Club,” said Ward.
“I’m forever grateful for the opportunity that the Club gave me at an early age and I hope I can repay that,” he added.
Phil Parkinson on Danny Ward
Many would have expected Ward to chase first-team football after many years of sitting on the bench at Leicester.
Instead, Ward heads to Wrexham to begin as second-choice goalkeeper behind Okonkwo, and overtaking him won’t be easy.
Okonkwo could represent Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations midway through the season, meaning Ward may yet become first-choice for a stretch.
Boss Phil Parkinson has explained his thinking with Ward’s return, noting that he is an experienced goalkeeper who will be a ‘great addition’ to the squad.
“We’re delighted to welcome Danny back to Wrexham. He’s a keeper with a lot of experience and he’s going to be a great addition to the squad,” he added.
The 32-year-old stopper will now link up with Wrexham and will be in the squad for next week’s trip Down Under as Parkinson’s pre-season preparations kick off.