**Wrexham Prepare for Latest Record-Breaking Signing as Club Outspends Premier League Rivals**
Wrexham AFC appear set to continue their eye-catching summer in the transfer market as sources suggest the Welsh side are poised to secure the signature of Ipswich Town forward Nathan Broadhead for a reported fee of £7.5 million. This high-profile move marks what would be a third transfer record for the club within just a fortnight, underlining Wrexham’s ambitions as they gear up for their return to the Championship after a 43-year absence.
The deal for Broadhead, who previously spent time in Wrexham’s academy during his youth, adds further momentum to the club’s sizeable recruitment drive. The 27-year-old has had an impactful spell with Ipswich Town, helping them to consecutive promotions but found Premier League starts hard to come by last season. With only one year left on his contract, the Wales international’s move reunites him with the club where his footballing journey began.
Under the stewardship and international spotlight brought by Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham’s summer spending has rocketed. Earlier in the transfer window, the club made waves by bringing in Liberato Cacace from Empoli in a deal potentially worth £4 million, complete with bonuses and future clauses. Only days later, they surpassed that outlay with the £5 million acquisition of Lewis O’Brien from Nottingham Forest—each time recording a new club transfer record.
Alongside these landmark signings, manager Phil Parkinson has been busy strengthening his squad in other areas. Wrexham have added Plymouth Argyle striker Ryan Hardie for an estimated £700,000, and secured Bolton Wanderers’ captain George Thomason for £1.2 million. Free transfer deals have also brought experienced campaigners into the dressing room, with former Leicester City goalkeeper Danny Ward and ex-Sheffield Wednesday attacker Josh Windass both arriving in North Wales.
Should the Broadhead deal be finalised, Wrexham’s total summer outlay would exceed £18 million—a figure placing them ahead of at least three Premier League clubs for transfer expenditure. While Fulham have yet to make a signing and Crystal Palace’s only move has been for Ajax left-back Borna Sosa at £2 million, Aston Villa’s business has been equally restrained, their sole notable addition being Turkish defender Yasin Ozcan for £6.7 million.
Wrexham’s aggressive approach in the market is a clear indicator of their intent to compete at a higher level and build upon the momentum from their dramatic rise through the football pyramid. The club’s ambition to establish themselves in the Championship is evidently being backed by significant financial investment and a desire to attract proven talent with both league and international experience.
Despite the rapid additions, boss Parkinson remains intent on further strengthening before Wrexham’s league campaign kicks off on August 9 against Southampton. Speaking candidly to BBC Sport Wales, he acknowledged the challenges of completing all business early but affirmed the club’s ongoing efforts: “In an ideal world you want all your signings in before pre-season, but it doesn’t always work like that. There’s a host of reasons—whether it’s clubs unwilling to sell, negotiation hurdles or buyer competition. We still hope to make a couple more additions.”
He went on to stress the importance of continuing to build until the end of the transfer window: “The most important thing is by the end of August we’ve got a squad in here which we feel can compete.”
Wrexham’s resurgence has also brought them to international prominence, fuelled by the success of the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ docuseries and an influx of supporters from around the world. Now, with their Championship campaign on the horizon and substantial investments in playing staff, the club finds itself at the centre of footballing conversation once again, not just for its Hollywood links but for its high-stakes pursuit of top-tier success.
As the transfer window continues, all eyes remain on Wrexham to see if further additions will arrive ahead of their milestone season back in English football’s second division, and whether their spending spree will reap the rewards both on and off the pitch.