Ryan Reynolds' powers of persuasion clear after Wrexham star rejected big transfer
Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo turned down ‘offers from a higher level’ to return to the club which owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney labelled a ‘statement signing’.
After 15 years outside the football league, Wrexham followed up their National League title by securing back-to-back promotions to get out of League Two at the first time of asking. Ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, the Red Dragons moved to complete a permanent deal with Okonkwo after the goalkeeper helped them secure back-to-back promotions.
Back in 2021, Deadpool star Reynolds and McElhenney - famed for creating and starring in ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ - teamed up to purchase Wrexham for £2.25million. Largely through the popular Disney+ documentary titled ‘Welcome to Wrexham’, their passion for the project, city, and club has revitalised Wrexham.
Having spent last season on loan, Okonkwo bought into the vision for Wrexham and opted to return to Wales to continue his spell with the exciting project after his Arsenal contract expired. Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson is delighted.
“We are pleased Arthur has joined us permanently,” Parkinson told The Leader. “It is a great signing for us. We know what he is capable of with the season he had last year. His profile as a goalkeeper, inevitably there was going to be a lot of interest in him in the summer and there was a lot of hard work behind the scenes to secure Arthur's signing.
“Credit to everybody getting the deal done. It is important that we work hard to secure the players we really feel can make a difference. We feel that Arthur is one of those who is going to keep improving. He is still young for a goalkeeper. He has had a couple of seasons now at first-team level and he is a really good character as well. We wanted him to stay with us in the long-term. I am delighted he had joined us and it is a statement signing.”
Parkinson added: “Arthur was a player in all the staff's mind that we really wanted to get on board as soon as the season finished because he is a really good goalkeeper. It is a key signing for us and we are pleased to get it done. It's taken a bit of time but as I've said before, sometimes signings do for a variety of reasons. But we were able to secure the signature and I was pleased to get it done before pre-season starts.
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Arthur Okonkwo has returned to Wrexham after a successful loan spell last season
“There were offers for him to go to a higher level but I think Arthur's experience here was a very positive one. I am sure supporters will be excited about the signing and hopefully there will be a few more key additions before the season starts.”
Okonkwo made 40 appearances in all competitions last season, tallying 16 clean sheets as the Red Dragons finished second in Sky Bet League Two to secure promotion to League One. After signing, he said: “I’m feeling very good, I’m so happy to have finally signed and I can’t wait to get back to it. It was amazing last season. We had so many good memories together with the fans, and knowing they wanted me back was a big reason that I’m back. It’s good to finally be here.
“This is home, it’s felt like that since last season when I came in. The co-chairmen are so good, the manager, the coaches, the players, and obviously the backroom staff that you don’t see. It’s so good to be here.”
Okonkwo also had loan spells with Crewe Alex and Sturm Graz during his time with Arsenal. His move will become permanent on July 1.