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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ricky Charlesworth

All 18 Wrexham signings since Hollywood takeover from Man Utd talent to EFL goal machine

The bold ambition set out by Wrexham's Hollywood owners was laid bare when last year one of them dared to mention the Premier League.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney had not even been in charge of the non-league side for a year when the former made an eye-raising comment. "I don't profess to be a football expert but I see the beauty of the fan and I see it through others," Reynolds said last October. "We'd be lying if the dream wasn't the Premier League. We want to get back in the Football League and continue our way upwards."

Many outsiders may snigger at the quote but those inside the club believe it was borne out of a genuine aim by the A-list pair rather than intended as a headline-grabbing soundbite.

Wrexham are currently preparing for a 15th straight season in the National League but will be hoping to go one better than last term and go straight up rather than have to manoeuvre the play-offs. They have already been busy in the transfer market and here, Mirror Football looks at every signing made by the Dragons since their high-profile takeover 17 months ago.

Shaun Brisley

Defender Brisley was the first arrival in the Reynolds-McElhenney era, joining in the summer of 2021 from Port Vale.

But injuries affected him and meant he played just four times for the Dragons before he was released this month, subsequently joining Buxton.

Liam McAlinden

Joined from League One Morecambe last summer on a two-year deal. Played seven times for Wolves in the Championship at the start of his career. McAlinden was mostly used as a substitute by Wrexham last term.

Paul Mullin

The jewel in the crown for the Dragons, the signing of Mullin last summer was a huge coup not just for them but for the National League in general.

Mullin snubbed a new contract offer at Cambridge, for whom he had scored 32 goals the previous season as they won promotion to League One. He penned a three-year deal in Wales and was in electric form last term, hitting 30 in 41 appearances in all competitions.

Harry Lennon

Defender Lennon made the move from Southend last summer but saw injury curtail his campaign. He had back surgery at the start of this year and has just earned a new contract.

Will Wrexham secure promotion this season? Have your say in the comments!

Bryce Hossanah

Defender Hossanah joined from Leeds United last summer and featured regularly last term. He has another year left to run on his contract.

Jake Hyde

Well-travelled forward Hyde arrived from Halifax on a two-year deal last summer but will want to imrove on his return of just three goals in 16 outings.

Ben Tozer

Another marquee signing, Tozer was poached from Cheltenham - whom he had captained to the League Two title in 2020-21. Wrexham paid an undisclosed fee for him and he featured regularly as they fell just short in the play-offs last time out.

James Jones

Scottish midfielder Jones was another eye-raising addition, arriving for an undisclosed fee from third-tier Lincoln. He is a regular presence in the engine room.

Aaron Hayden

Wrexham poached Hayden from Carlisle and he was a firm fixture in the defence, catching the eye with eight goals last term.

David Jones

Jones arrived as a free agent last year as player-coach but, after a handful of appearances, the 37-year-old is now fully on the coaching side of things.

He was on the books at Manchester United for four years, making a handful of outings in the domestic cups, before going on to enjoy success at Derby, Wolves and Burnley.

Charlie Trafford

The Canada-born midfielder joined from Scottish side Hamilton Academical in October 2021. But Trafford made no impact at Wrexham and left in January 2022 after failing to make a single appearance.

Ollie Palmer

Striker Palmer became Wrexham's club-record signing when they forked out more than £300,000 to sign him from Wimbledon in January. He repaid a large chunk of that by scoring 16 goals in 24 games. He will be key again next term.

Lee Camp

Veteran goalkeeper Camp joined the Dragons on a short-term deal in March this year but never made an appearance and was released this summer.

Callum McFadzean

The former Sheffield United and Sunderland defender joined in January on a two-and-a-half-year deal. He has previously spent a spell in Scotland, playing for Kilmarnock.

Thomas O'Connor

Irish midfielder O'Connor joined from League One Burton in January but found chances hard to come by, making just three league starts in the second half of the season.

Mark Howard

Experienced stopper Howard signed up this summer, arriving from League Two Carlisle. He also has spells at Bolton and Sheffield United under his belt and signed a one-year deal.

Jordan Tunnicliffe

Tunnicliffe arrived on a three-year deal after leaving Crawley. He was Wrexham's first summer signing and made more than 100 appearances for the Red Devils.

Elliot Lee

Another eye-catching signing, Lee arrives after his contract with Luton expired. He's penned a three-year deal with Phil Parkinson's side and upon arrival, he said: "I wanted to join somewhere that excited me - I had a few EFL offers but after hearing about the ambition of this club, it was Wrexham for me."

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