Wrexham AFC Secures Significant Investment to Propel Ambitions

Under the stewardship of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham AFC’s revenue in League Two has already surpassed that of several Championship clubs.

The club’s aspirations have received a significant boost with an injection of nearly £50 million. This funding is part of a comprehensive long-term strategy aimed at fostering the club’s growth, rather than merely serving as a resource for January transfer signings.

Recently, Wrexham climbed into the Championship play-off positions, and under Phil Parkinson’s management, the team could potentially achieve an unprecedented fourth consecutive promotion under the ownership of Reynolds and McElhenney.

Documents obtained from Companies House indicate that Wrexham has secured £47.83 million through a new share issuance. While there is potential for player acquisitions before the upcoming transfer deadline, this figure stems from a deal finalized last month with the American finance group Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), marking a significant new investment.

ASC, which also holds a majority stake in the renowned Spanish club Atletico Madrid, has acquired a minority share in Wrexham believed to be just under 10%. This investment provides essential working capital for a club that has previously expressed the need to catch up off the field, given its rapid ascent from non-league status just three years prior.

While future transfer and salary budgets may benefit from this additional funding, the club also has ongoing plans to enhance its academy, women’s program, and overall infrastructure.

At the time the deal was announced, Reynolds and McElhenney stated: “From day one, we wanted to build a sustainable future for Wrexham Association Football Club. Our goal has always been to advance the club to the Premier League while remaining true to the community. Achieving such growth requires world-class partners who share our vision and ambition, and Apollo certainly embodies that.”

Apollo Sports Capital now holds a seat on the club’s board alongside Reynolds, McElhenney, who maintains the majority shareholding, and the New York-based Allyn family, who possess approximately 15% of the club.

ASC’s parent company reportedly manages over $900 billion (£675 billion) in assets and has outlined plans to invest $5 billion (£3.75 billion) in the sports sector.

In addition to the initial investment, the partnership may provide access to further capital to support the development of various areas within Cae Ras.

Wrexham is currently in the process of constructing a new 5,500-seat Kop stand, which has the potential to expand to 7,750 seats, thereby increasing the ground’s overall capacity to approximately 18,000. Plans for additional long-term expansions and the establishment of a new training facility are also being considered.

Next month will mark the five-year anniversary of the high-profile takeover by Reynolds and McElhenney from the Wrexham Supporters Trust, which previously owned and operated the club. This period has witnessed a remarkable surge in revenues, attracting global interest due to the celebrity ownership and the accompanying documentary.