Success or Flop? Rating Wrexham’s Summer Signings

Success or Flop? Rating Wrexham’s Summer Signings

Wrexham Column

Red Dragons Under the Scope

Well, that’s it. The transfer window has slammed shut, and Wrexham can no longer make any signings until January 1st. We are stuck with the team we have, and on paper, it’s not a bad squad.

Hell, the majority of this team managed to finish seventh in the league last season, narrowly missing out on the play-offs. But the start to this season hasn't exactly filled me with confidence. Two 1-1 draws against Cardiff and Watford were followed by a 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City, leaving Wrexham still searching for their first league win.

So, with the window now closed, I thought it was time to take a look at the players Wrexham have brought in this summer and judge whether I think each signing will be a success or a flop.

Danny Imray - Success

Signed for £6.6m from Crystal Palace, wing-back Imray is currently my pick for the signing of the summer. An attacking right-back who has already shown his worth, he has been solid defensively, running around like he’d had a rocket shoved up him and never faltering. But it’s not just defensively where Imray has impressed, with a goal against Watford and an assist against Cardiff already to his name.

For me, Imray looks to be the missing piece on the right flank, a position that has noticeably been missing something over the last few seasons. Barnett has at times looked like he struggles with the intensity of the Championship, although he is brilliant when he comes off the bench, while Longman isn't an out-and-out right-back. Imray, on the other hand, looks like he could finally be the answer.

I'm calling it now: by the end of the season, Imray will be Wrexham’s player of the season.

Anthony Patterson - Success

Patterson came in from Premier League outfit Sunderland for £9.4m, with the keeper not wanting to play second fiddle to Roefs. Having spent the second half of last season back in the Championship and with the majority of his career coming in the second tier, Patterson has more than enough experience between the sticks to be Wrexham's number one. At only 26, he could also be the Wrexham keeper for years to come.

His opening few games haven't been the greatest, conceding at least one goal in each of them, but I'm not overly concerned just yet. I have faith that Patterson will settle in and establish himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship this season.

Issa Kabore - Flop

Returning face Kaboré has now joined Wrexham on a permanent deal, signing from Manchester City for around £2m, which isn't a bad price for a back-up full-back. When Kaboré played last season, I really did enjoy watching him. He brought plenty of energy down the right and looked comfortable in the Championship, so bringing him back permanently makes a lot of sense.

Unfortunately, he suffered an injury in mid-November whilst away with his national team, Burkina Faso, which kept him out until January. Then, just as he was getting back into the swing of things, he picked up another injury in March. That's what worries me about Kaboré. There is no denying that he can be a really useful player for Wrexham, but if he can't stay fit, then that £2m could quickly start looking like a waste of money.

With Wrexham trying to push for promotion, having reliable players who are available week in, week out is absolutely crucial. Kaboré already knows the club, knows Parkinson's system and has shown that he can perform at this level. But the injuries are definitely something I'll be keeping an eye on.

Jacques Ekomie - Success

Ekomie signed for Wrexham for £8m from Ligue 1 club Angers SCO, where the left-back had been playing consistently, making 33 appearances last season. Ekomie should be able to carve out a first-team position for himself fairly quickly, as, like the right-back position, left-back has also been a spot that has caused Parkinson some serious headaches. Having to play George Thomason there at times, while Liberato Cacace has been in and out of the squad with injuries, has highlighted the need for another option.

Ekomie is an up-and-coming full-back who attracted interest from West Ham and Hamburg, among others, before choosing Wrexham. If he can settle into English football quickly, I think he could become a key part of Wrexham's squad during the 2026/27 season.

Ben Whiteman - Flop

Former Manchester United academy graduate Whiteman, who had been plying his trade as Preston North End’s captain, signed for Wrexham for £3m following a high-profile transfer dispute that included Whiteman refusing to play for PNE in a pre-season friendly against Stockport, with Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom claiming the whole thing had “crossed a line”.

The whole fiasco, combined with what seems to be an abundance of defensively minded central midfielders at Wrexham, is one of the main reasons why I believe this signing might not work out. Dobson, Sheaf, Rathbone, O’Brien, James and now Whiteman all offer something in that area, while new signing O’Hare adds another central midfield option. That is a lot of competition for relatively few positions.

And to be clear, this isn't because I think Whiteman is a bad player. Far from it. He has been a very good Championship midfielder for years and captained Preston for two seasons. I just question whether Wrexham actually needed another player with his profile, especially when there are other areas of the squad that arguably needed strengthening more.

Callum O’Hare - Success

O’Hare was the last signing of the window, coming in on deadline day. Being an attacking midfielder, O’Hare could be the missing piece Wrexham need, and he would give Josh Windass some much-needed competition, hopefully pushing both players to improve.

After putting together two successful Championship campaigns following his return from an ACL injury that sidelined him for almost a full year, O’Hare has shown that he can perform consistently at this level. If he can carry that form over to Wrexham, I think he could be a pivotal part of Wrexham’s push for promotion.

Joe Worral - Success

Even with the amount of centre-backs Wrexham have, Worrall coming in is going to turn heads, not only from inside the club but also around the Championship. With two quick, ball-playing defenders either side of him, I think he could really thrive in the Wrexham squad. His defensive experteese and ability to read the game should also complement the younger, more energetic defenders around him.

Worrall also brings Premier League and European experience that Wrexham will need over the coming years. Having played at the highest level, he has been around dressing rooms and teams competing for major honours, and hopefully he will be able to pass some of that knowledge on to the younger players in the squad, such as Max Cleworth. For around £2m, I think Worrall could prove to be a very smart bit of business for Wrexham.

Overall, this wasn't a bad transfer window for Wrexham. Maybe not the best we've ever had, but it was still a good one. The defensive back-up that has been brought in could be crucial to how Wrexham's season goes, and on paper, we should be a lot more solid defensively.

If I could do the whole window all over again, the only change I would make would be bringing in a 20–25 goal-a-season striker. Other than that, I'm happy with how the whole thing played out. We've added experience, competition and depth across the squad, and now it's just a case of hoping it all pays off.

So, to rank this transfer window out of 10, I'm going with 7/10.

Jac Jones
Jac Jones Wrexham Correspondent

Jac Jones is an NUJ-qualified journalist specialising in football and sports culture. Over the past two years, he has developed a focus on covering topics ranging from club identity and supporter culture to the wider social impact of the game.

Jac’s first memory of football came at the age of five, when he went to the Racecourse Ground with his father on a cold Tuesday night to watch Wrexham play. His lifelong support of the club has given him a deeper insight into Wrexham, providing him with a unique understanding of the team’s journey both before and after the takeover, something that heavily influences and features throughout his writing.

View all articles by Jac Jones →

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