Wrexham sign Premier League defender as summer transfer spree shows no sign of slowing down
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have demonstrated their magic touch in the transfer market once more as they convinced Leicester City's Lewis Brunt to swap the Premier League for League One in a major coup.
Following on from the signings of former top flight stalwarts James McClean and Steven Fletcher last summer, the club's Hollywood owners have demonstrated their ambition once more with another stunning capture. Dropping down two divisions to join the Red Dragons, Brunt has been signed on an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old has penned three-year contract which will see him ply his trade at the Racecourse Ground until 2027. He becomes the second Premier League player to sign for the North Wales outfit this summer, with Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo also having joined Wrexham on a free transfer following his loan spell with the club last term.
Brunt represents another major statement from Reynolds and McElhenney, with the highly-rated versatile defender having appeared twice in the Premier League for the Foxes. He spent last season on loan at Mansfield Town in League Two, impressing across his his 34 appearances during his temporary stay.
Able to play across the backline, as well as being adept in defensive midfield, the addition of the prospect will bolster Phil Parkinson's squad ahead of their first League One campaign in 20 years. Mostly utilized as a centre-back in his career so far, his flexibility could prove a major asset to the Wrexham head coach in the upcoming season.
Expressing his delight after the deal was confirmed, Brunt said: "I’m over the moon to get the deal signed and over the line and I can’t wait to get going. Everyone knows the story behind Wrexham, it’s a club with a great history and big ambitions for where it wants to go, so to join that journey is a good feeling."
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Lewis Brunt of Leicester City is the latest player with Premier League experience to sign for Wrexham
Meanwhile, new boss Parkinson spoke glowingly about the defender's talents, adding: "Lewis will be a very good signing for us and he’s a very good young player. He did exceptionally well in his first full season at Mansfield and he will be a player that has a lot of development in him. I believe that he will be a great acquisition for us."
Mansfield had been hoping to make Brunt a permanent part of their squad following his performances with the Stags during the last campaign. The Nottinghamshire outfit also earned promotion to the third tier last season after finishing in third place - one spot behind Wrexham.
Prior to a deal being struck for the Leicester player to join the Dragons, Mansfield manager Nigel Clough had said: "Negotiations are ongoing. We put a bid in that was rejected. We might be too far apart in terms of their valuation and what we can pay, unfortunately, but we are certainly not ruling it out and he remains our number one target."