EFL clinch blockbuster £148m broadcasting deal in bid to crack America after seeing Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney 'open the eyes of the world' at Wrexham

The EFL confirmed in a statement that the move to expand their viewership had been accepted by clubs, meaning a lucrative new deal could be pushed through. The competition is set to receive £148m over the next four seasons to show games outside the United Kingdom - with a mission to plant roots in America.

The deal sees two agencies, Pitch International and Relevant Sports, represent the EFL globally. Pitch International provide EFL rights in Europe, MENA and other regions, whereas Relevant Sports will target distribution throughout North, Central and South America. The aim will be to develop the profile of clubs from the Championship to League Two - including Carabao Cup, EFL trophy and promotion play-offs - in said regions through targeted marketing campaigns.

EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said: “These new agreements represent not only guaranteed levels of revenue but also present the League and our 72 clubs with a fantastic opportunity to establish further the EFL as a premium football brand in markets across the world. In Pitch and Relevent we have two partners with an in-depth understanding of the global TV rights markets and that knowledge, coupled with the enthusiasm of their teams, will hopefully ensure we achieve our objective of delivering value to Clubs alongside taking EFL football to as wide an audience as possible outside the UK.”

The popularity of the English Championship and continued rise of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham are thought to be two deciding factors in this expansion. According to the Daily Mail, the Championship is one of the most-watched leagues in Europe outside of the Premier League, while Wrexham's escapades under their Hollywood owners have generated viewer interest in the plights of lower-league sides.

Per The Athletic, 27 per of EFL clubs are currently owned by US-based groups, alongside three National League teams and four Scottish Premier League sides. The Mail writes that they see the EFL as a potential growth area, particularly in the Americas. The deal lasts until the conclusion of the 2027-28 campaign.