In the Championship league, Wrexham surpasses renowned Champions League teams with the largest overall spending on player transfers.
Wrexham's Championship Debut: Hollywood-Backed Club Faces Tough Start
Wrexham, the Welsh football club co-owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have begun their Championship campaign with a challenging start. The club, which has seen a significant boost in revenue and high-profile signings since the involvement of its celebrity owners, has lost both of its opening games.
The club's most recent financial results, released in March, show a revenue of £26.7m, a substantial increase from the £1.148m reported before the arrival of Reynolds and McElhenney. This revenue surpasses the reported average of £22m for Championship clubs.
The club's first game was a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Southampton, with the Saints scoring twice in stoppage time. The second game was a 3-2 defeat at home to West Brom. Despite these losses, Wrexham have been active in the transfer market, securing the signatures of experienced Premier League players.
Conor Coady, Lewis O'Brien, and Kieffer Moore have joined Wrexham for modest fees, bringing with them a wealth of Premier League experience. The club has also smashed its club record transfer fee with the signing of Nathan Broadhead from Ipswich in a deal worth up to £10m. Wrexham have also completed the signing of Manchester City defender Callum Doyle for around £7.5m.
Wrexham's net spend is the most of any Championship club, with Charlton their nearest rivals in 49th on £10m. According to data on Transfermarkt, Wrexham are 29th for biggest net spend this summer, just one place behind European giants Inter Milan.
The club is currently involved in a transfer battle with Birmingham for a Liverpool starlet. Shirt sales, driven by fans on both sides of the pond, have helped drive Wrexham's retail revenue to £4.45m. Every match at The Racecourse Ground is a sellout.
On Saturday, Wrexham face Sheffield Wednesday, who have been mired by trouble off the pitch this summer. Despite the tough start, Wrexham are potentially just one season away from reaching the Premier League, having overseen three promotions in the last three seasons under the guidance of their Hollywood owners.
In the summer transfer period of 2025, Wrexham signed Ryan Hardie from Plymouth Argyle for £700,000 and also secured Kieffer Moore. The club's ambitious spending and high-profile signings have raised expectations, but the early results in the Championship have yet to reflect this investment.
As Wrexham continues to adapt to life in the Championship, fans will be eagerly awaiting the team's next match and the potential for a turnaround in fortunes.
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