Five years ago, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney embarked on a venture that many in the football world viewed with skepticism, if not outright derision. Their takeover of Wrexham Association Football Club, a Welsh team languishing in the fifth tier of English football, was initially dismissed as a Hollywood publicity stunt. Today, however, the narrative has dramatically shifted. The pair have not only revitalized the club on the pitch – securing three successive promotions – but have also transformed the fortunes of a town, now a city, and built a global brand.
The journey, chronicled in the Emmy-award winning documentary series Welcome to Wrexham, has been nothing short of remarkable. Reynolds and McElhenney paid a symbolic £1 to acquire the club from the Wrexham Supporters Trust, accompanied by a commitment to invest £2 million. That initial investment has blossomed into a far more substantial undertaking, culminating in a recent valuation of £350 million (approximately $475 million) following a minority shareholding purchase by Apollo Sports Capital, as reported on .
The financial transformation is striking. The club’s transfer record has been broken seven times under their ownership, most recently with the £7.5 million acquisition of Ipswich Town forward Nathan Broadhead last summer, a fee that could potentially rise to £10 million based on performance criteria. Prior to Reynolds and McElhenney’s arrival, the club’s record signing was a comparatively modest £300,000 for striker Ollie Palmer in .
Beyond player acquisitions, significant investment has been made in infrastructure. A new pitch, complete with undersoil heating, cost £1.7 million, demonstrating a commitment to improving the playing surface and overall facilities at the Racecourse Ground. These improvements aren’t merely about football; they’re about creating a sustainable, modern club capable of competing at higher levels.
However, the impact extends far beyond the pitch and the balance sheet. Reynolds and McElhenney have actively engaged with the Wrexham community, fostering a renewed sense of civic pride. The Athletic’s exclusive interview with the pair, marking their fifth anniversary, underscored their long-term vision: to build a self-sustaining club that contributes positively to the local area. This commitment is particularly poignant given Wrexham’s history. Relegated from the Football League in , the club was subsequently taken over by supporters in to prevent its collapse.
The partnership between Reynolds and McElhenney itself is an unlikely one. Reynolds revealed that their initial connection stemmed from a simple Instagram message, a gesture of appreciation for McElhenney’s comedy series, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This led to a lengthy email from McElhenney pitching the idea of a takeover, a pitch that ultimately convinced Reynolds to get involved. Reynolds described the origins of their friendship as “unorthodox,” admitting they “met from absolutely nothing, from vapours, really.”
Despite their success, both Reynolds and McElhenney readily admit their understanding of the sport remains incomplete. As McElhenney quipped in the Athletic interview, “We still don’t 100 per cent understand the sport!” Yet, this self-awareness hasn’t hindered their progress. Reynolds, in fact, now considers himself “a Wrexham lifer,” a sentiment echoed by his dedication to the club and the community.
The cultural impact is undeniable. Reynolds’s celebrity has brought unprecedented global attention to Wrexham, attracting fans and investors from around the world. However, this increased visibility isn’t without its challenges. Reynolds recently joked that his children are often “frustrated” when he’s stopped in the street for conversations about the club, a testament to his constant engagement with supporters.
The future for Wrexham looks bright. Currently one promotion away from the Premier League, the club’s trajectory is upward. The financial stability provided by the Apollo Sports Capital investment, coupled with the continued commitment of Reynolds and McElhenney, positions Wrexham for sustained success. The story of Wrexham isn’t just about football; it’s about the power of community, the transformative potential of investment, and the unlikely partnership that breathed new life into a historic club. It’s a narrative that continues to captivate audiences worldwide, proving that sometimes, the most improbable stories have the most satisfying endings – or, in Wrexham’s case, are still being written.
