Wrexham AFC has returned to League One, but the club’s transfer spend has long been a point of issue among rivals. For example, Wrexham was one of four clubs that spent money on an incoming player last season when it acquired James McClean and Luke McNicholas. This summer, the Red Dragons have only purchased one […]
Wrexham AFC has returned to League One, but the club’s transfer spend has long been a point of issue among rivals. For example, Wrexham was one of four clubs that spent money on an incoming player last season when it acquired James McClean and Luke McNicholas. This summer, the Red Dragons have only purchased one player. Ollie Rathbone arrived from Rotherham for $555,000.
That alone makes Wrexham one of the biggest spenders in League One, the third tier of English soccer. Only 13 of the league’s 24 clubs have spent money on players this summer. Some have spent more than others, perhaps to no surprise, but several clubs have spent more than Wrexham.
Although the summer transfer window closes on Aug. 30, we can identify how active the clubs in England’s third tier have been so far. In doing so, we can answer the narrative as to whether Wrexham is outspending other clubs upon its return to League One. Wrexham ranks fourth in annual payroll among the 24 League One teams. Here is how it stacks up in the summer transfer market.
Transfer spending among League One clubs ahead of 2024/25 season
Teams with a gain in the net spending category have sold more funds than they have spent. For example, Peterborough sold two players for a combined $7.83 million.
RankClubTransfer ExpenditureNet Spending1Birmingham City FC$16.78 million$11.23 million2Charlton Athletic$1.31 million$294,0003Peterborough United$1.11 million$6.7 million GAIN4Huddersfield Town$1.08 million$5.46 million GAIN5Bolton Wanderers$1.04 million$1.04 million6Bristol Rovers$987,000$422,0007Burton Albion$654,000$654,0008Wrexham AFC$555,000$555,0009Stockport County$500,000$500,00010Barnsley FC$260,000$260,00011Mansfield Town$255,000$255,00012Lincoln City$144,000$377,000 GAIN13Stevenage FC$131,000$524,000 GAIN14Blackpool$0$015Cambridge City$0$016Crawley Town$0$017Exeter City$0$018Leyton Orient$0$019Northampton Town$0$020Reading FC$0$021Shrewsbury Town$0$022Wycombe Wanderers$0$023Rotherham United$0$2.57 million GAIN24Wigan Athletic$0$5.22 million GAIN
Wrexham does not spend more than other clubs in transfer market
As seen in the table, Wrexham’s acquisition of Ollie Rathbone stands out as a rare purchase in League One. However, other clubs have been far more active. Birmingham City, for example, has outspent the rest of the league combined. The Blues have purchased nine players after falling down from the Championship. They are by far the favorites to advance to the second tier next season after their horrendous campaign in the 2023/24 season. That disappointment may have fueled an active transfer window.
Huddersfield Town is another club to crack the top-five spenders in League One this season. However, as one of the clubs to come down from the Championship, other clubs poached Huddersfield’s players. Jack Rudoni stayed in the second tier in a major move to promotion hopefuls Coventry City.
Eleven clubs have not spent any money on transfers. Each side has been active, using free transfers to mix up the squad ahead of the campaign. However, this shows that budgets are tight in the third tier. Clubs must be savvy with free transfers and their wage bill to ensure they have the right squad to achieve their goals.
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