LINCOLN, ENGLAND - MAY 3: Arthur Okonkwo of Wrexham during the Sky Bet League One match between Lincoln City FC and Wrexham AFC at LNER Stadium on May 3, 2025 in Lincoln, England. (Photo by Chris Vaughan/Getty Images)
Wrexham player turned down teams in higher divisions to complete transfer, named one ‘huge factor’
Wrexham completed a plethora of transfers across the most recent season, beating teams in higher divisions to one signing.
Wrexham have broken their transfer record on numerous occasions since the takeover of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
In the 2024/25 campaign alone, Wrexham managed to do so on three separate occasions.
Ollie Rathbone won Player of the Season after his record deal from Rotherham United in August.
Modou Faal then surpassed the midfielder with his £590,000 move from West Brom.
Most recently, Wrexham landed Sam Smith in a multi-million pound deal in the January transfer window.
However, one of the major coups the club pulled off in the most recent summer window actually arrived for nothing.
- READ MORE: The huge amount Birmingham City spent compared to Wrexham on player wages to win promotion
Arthur Okonkwo turned down clubs to complete Wrexham transfer
Arthur Okonkwo spent the 2023/24 season on loan in League Two with Wrexham from Arsenal.
He then left the Premier League outfit for free last summer when his contract expired.
Parkinson told Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney he wanted Okonkwo back at Wrexham, and the manager got his wish.
Now, in Season 4 Episode 1 of Welcome to Wrexham, which aired on May 16 in the UK, the goalkeeper shared that he actually turned down teams in higher divisions to complete the move.
On why he did so, Okonkwo pointed toward the support he has received from fans.
He said: “It was a long negotiation process, I did have clubs higher up, but I wanted to come back to Wrexham.
“The fans are a huge part in that. The confidence they gave me. That can bring the most out of a player, so that was a huge factor for me.”
- READ MORE: Ryan Reynolds issues his reaction to Wrexham duo Steven Fletcher and Mark Howard future updates
Arthur Okonkwo Wrexham stats
Okonkwo was once again Wrexham’s number one shot-stopper over the course of the 2024/25 season.
He made 33 League One appearances, missing part of the campaign due to an injury suffered in November.
Max Cleworth praised Okonkwo recently, saying that the ex-Arsenal man had another fantastic season with the club.
All told, he conceded just 23 goals in the league while managing a very impressive 19 clean sheets.
Ryan Reynolds said he ‘will never forget’ a ‘pinch-me’
Wrexham won League One promotion in 2024/25, but another moment left Ryan Reynolds full of joy.
Wrexham beat Charlton Athletic 3-0 on April 26 to secure second place in League One.
Wrexham moment – and it wasn’t League One promotion
The Red Dragons joined rivals Birmingham City in securing automatic promotion to the Championship with a second-place finish.
No side had ever won three promotions in a row before the Welsh club did so last month, while Wrexham made club history thanks to their points tally from 2024/25.
It was a remarkable campaign, and securing back-to-back promotions is very impressive, but there was another moment in the season that left Ryan Reynolds pinching himself.
- READ MORE: The huge amount Birmingham City spent compared to Wrexham on player wages to win promotion
Ryan Reynolds on Wrexham pre-season friendly
Wrexham, as they did the year prior, toured North America in their 2024 pre-season.
During their tour, the Dragons faced off with Vancouver Whitecaps, coming away with a 4-1 win on July 28.
Now, in the new season of Welcome to Wrexham, Reynolds has opened up on what it was like returning to the club he used to watch as a child.
