Premier League quality at Wrexham: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney splash the cash on ex-Southampton star Jay Rodriguez and hand him eye-watering £15k per-week wages

Wrexham have announced the permanent capture of Rodriguez from Burnley on an 18-month contract, reported by ESPN to be "comfortably" a club record transfer fee in excess of £1 millon ($1.25m). Just prior to completion, Telegraph reporter Mike McGrath posted on X that the 35-year-old stands to pocket wages of up to £15,000 ($18,700) per week in north Wales.

Rodriguez is yet another example of a player who has dropped from a higher division to sign for Wrexham. The striker has played 20 Championship games for Burnley so far in 2024-25, and scored twice in the Premier League for the Clarets just last season. He has previously tured out in the top flight for West Bromwich Albion and Southampton in the past, famously scoring 15 times for the latter in 2013-14 and playing his way into the England squad.

Rodriguez told Wrexham's official website: "I'm made up to join the club. I can't wait to get out on the training pitch and meet everyone. I hope I can use my experience to help every single player in the squad and gain something from the group as well. To join the story that has evolved at Wrexham with clear targets is exciting for me."

Wrexham's dream of making it three successive promotions to get into the Championship next season is still very much a possibility. The Red Dragons sit third in the League One table, comfortably in the play-offs but starting to lose touch with top two Birmingham City and Wycombe Wanderers after winning just one of five league fixture so far in 2025. Next up is an away trip to struggling Crawley on Saturday, which manager Phil Parkinson will hope kickstarts his side's form.