The Hollywood owners of Wrexham AFC, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are on the hunt for new investors as they continue their ambitious push to take the North Wales football club into the Premier League.
Despite on-pitch success and soaring international interest — fuelled in part by the hit docuseries Welcome to Wrexham — the club remains a loss-making venture for its celebrity co-chairmen. The pair, who acquired the club in 2021, have now opened the door to additional backers willing to inject capital in exchange for a shareholding, as they eye further promotions.
The League One club is currently well-positioned for a move into the Championship, and the owners have made no secret of their desire to eventually compete with top-flight giants such as Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Their stewardship has already transformed Wrexham’s fortunes. Since the takeover, the club has secured two successive promotions, rebuilt its global brand, and dramatically increased revenues — particularly from sponsorship and international fan engagement.
In the 2022/23 season, Wrexham generated £26 million in revenue, up from £10 million the previous year. Sponsorship and advertising income alone rose from £2 million to £13 million, with more than half of total turnover now coming from overseas markets.
However, costs have risen sharply too. The club’s wage bill increased to £11 million, up from £7 million, contributing to a £2.7 million loss last year, following a £5 million loss the year before.
Recognising the challenge of sustaining growth in lower-league football, Reynolds and McElhenney took their first step towards external funding in October 2023, when they sold a minority stake to the Allyn family of New York, best known for their former ownership of the medical device firm Welch Allyn.
Now, the door is open for “further partners” to join the ownership group and help propel Wrexham further up the football pyramid.
McElhenney, who first had the idea of buying a club during the pandemic, previously said he was drawn to Wrexham because it reminded him of his working-class hometown of Philadelphia. His aim was to “bring hope” to the town by reinvigorating the club, and he persuaded Reynolds, star of Deadpool, to join the project.
Their investment has already yielded results, both financially and in global recognition. The club’s international following has grown exponentially, thanks to the Welcome to Wrexham series and the novelty of celebrity ownership. The story has captured the imagination of fans across the US and beyond, turning Wrexham into a global football brand — albeit one still climbing the professional tiers.
Wrexham AFC declined to comment further on the investor search, but sources suggest that any new backers would need to align with the club’s long-term vision and demonstrate a commitment to community-driven values as well as commercial growth.
For would-be investors, it may be a unique opportunity: a chance to gain equity in a rapidly rising club, rub shoulders with Hollywood royalty, and play a part in one of the most remarkable business turnarounds in British sport.
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Wrexham’s Hollywood owners seek new investors to back Premier League dream