**Wrexham Close in on Notable Signing as Josh Windass Nears Move Amid Steven Gerrard Fallout**
Wrexham AFC, the ambitious Welsh side making headlines for their meteoric rise through the English football ranks, are poised to confirm the signing of Josh Windass, a transfer drawing attention not only for the player’s Championship pedigree but also for the dramatic history with former manager Steven Gerrard. Sources, including the BBC, report that Windass is set for a medical with the Red Dragons after parting ways with Sheffield Wednesday last week.
Windass, 31, enjoyed a notable spell with the Owls, registering an impressive 13 goals and five assists in the last Championship campaign. His abrupt mutual exit from Hillsborough, amidst the club’s much-publicised wage delays, has made him a highly sought-after free agent this summer. According to reports, Windass attracted significant attention from multiple clubs, including his former side Rangers, but Wrexham, now under the high-profile stewardship of Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, appear to have won the race for his signature.
The story of Windass’ departure from Rangers back in August 2018 has resurfaced amid the current transfer saga. The forward, whose father Dean Windass is a Hull City legend, was a key player at Ibrox during his two-year stay, netting 19 goals in 73 appearances. His sudden switch to Wigan Athletic on deadline day, in a deal reportedly worth £2.5 million, rankled then-manager Steven Gerrard, who only months earlier had taken charge at the Glasgow club.
Windass himself has spoken openly about the episode, admitting on the Open Goal podcast earlier this year that he “immediately drove down the motorway” on hearing of Wigan’s interest, following a conversation with Gerrard. “It was a rash decision,” Windass confessed. “I didn’t really stop to think. Looking back, I regretted it almost immediately.” The regret, it seems, was mutual—Gerrard would go on to give him a frank assessment of his hasty departure during a later video call.
That Zoom call, which occurred approximately six months after Windass left Rangers, was meant to discuss a potential loan return to Glasgow. “Gerrard laid it all out—what I’d done wrong, what I needed to change, both as a footballer and as a person,” Windass recalled. “He was honest and upfront, but ultimately, I never went back.” The incident illustrates both the high stakes and emotional dimensions that transfer dealings can entail, particularly for young players navigating career-changing decisions.
Wrexham’s move for Windass is part of an energetic summer of transfers at the Racecourse Ground as the club prepares for its first season in the Championship after a 43-year hiatus. The club have not been shy of ambition, already breaking their transfer record to bring in New Zealand international Liberato Cacace from Empoli and adding experienced Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward to their squad. Plymouth’s Ryan Hardie has also joined the ranks, and a reported £1.2 million bid for Bolton captain George Thomason indicates that further reinforcements could yet arrive.
Windass’s journey since leaving Rangers saw him spend two fruitful seasons at Wigan before his 2020 move to Sheffield Wednesday, where he played a decisive role in helping the club achieve promotion from League One in 2023. The forward’s experience and competitive edge are highly prized assets for Phil Parkinson’s side, who will be hoping his goals and creativity can ease their transition into the second tier.
Despite rumoured interest from Coventry City, Derby County, and Norwich City, Windass is expected to be unveiled as Wrexham’s newest attacking option—a sign of the club’s strengthening reputational power within the football league hierarchy. Windass’s candid admissions about his earlier career errors also paint a picture of a maturing player keen to seize his next opportunity.
Wrexham, with their newfound global following thanks to the “Welcome to Wrexham” TV series, will be hoping to continue their upward trajectory. The club’s Hollywood owners have made no secret of their ambitions, and the capture of a player with Windass’s experience suggests the drive to succeed on and off the pitch remains as strong as ever.
As pre-season gathers pace and anticipation builds for the new campaign, all eyes will be on whether Windass can deliver goals and inspiration for the club’s passionate fanbase and further cement his own legacy in Welsh football.