The star-studded consortium led by Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has encountered a significant hurdle in their latest football venture. Their Colombian club, La Equidad, has finished its first campaign under new ownership rooted to the foot of the table, marking a stark contrast to their success in Wales.
A Disappointing Debut Season in South America
La Equidad, based in Bogotá, concluded its season in last place in Colombia's top division, the Categoria Primera A. This disappointing finish came despite the team securing a resounding 4-0 victory over Deportivo Periera in their final regular season fixture last week. The club had encouraged fans to attend this match to "experience together the close of a story that defined Colombian football," a statement that now carries a tone of regret.
The underwhelming performance is a clear departure from the remarkable success Reynolds and McElhenney have enjoyed with Wrexham, whom they have guided to three successive promotions. This Colombian project, which also involves high-profile investors like Eva Longoria, Justin Verlander, Kate Upton, and Odell Beckham Jr., has not had the desired start. The consortium, led by property mogul Al Tylis and former Swansea City executive Sam Porter, secured a 99% stake in the club for roughly $30 million (£23m) back in January.
Major Transformation and An Apology to Fans
In response to the poor season, the club is preparing for a major transformation. While full details are still under wraps, it has been confirmed that La Equidad will start the next term with a new name and a departure from its traditional green kit. A key change involves dropping "Seguros" from its official name, Club Deportivo La Equidad Seguros SA, to separate itself from its previous connections to an insurance company. This alteration has been officially registered with the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce.
Club president Nicolas Maya has already issued a statement expressing regret to supporters. "We know that the sporting results this season were not what we expected nor what our fans deserve," Maya said. "We made risky decisions, betting on young talent and building a model with projection, but not everything went as we wanted. Even so, we are convinced it was a necessary step to start building something lasting and sustainable."
A Growing Football Portfolio
The investment in La Equidad represents the third football club for Reynolds and McElhenney, following their now-famous takeover of Wrexham in February 2021 and their purchase of a stake in Mexican side Club Necaxa in April 2024. A behind-the-scenes documentary series has followed their initial two acquisitions, though plans for La Equidad's future media coverage are yet to be fully unveiled.
As the owners gear up to implement their sweeping changes in Colombia, the focus will be on replicating the long-term, sustainable model that has brought them such acclaim with Wrexham, proving that this initial setback is merely the first chapter in a much larger story.
