Wrexham are on the verge of completing their third summer signing after agreeing an £8million deal for Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who is now set to undergo a medical.
The 26-year-old shot-stopper is expected to become the club's new number one as Phil Parkinson's side prepare for their second successive Championship campaign, having narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season by two points with a seventh-place finish.
Patterson's rise and fall at Sunderland
Patterson established himself at his boyhood club during the 2021/22 season, helping Sunderland win promotion to the Championship under Alex Neil. He went on to make 45-plus appearances in three consecutive Championship seasons, before playing a key role in the Black Cats' return to the Premier League.
However, following promotion, the Englishman lost his starting spot after Régis Le Bris signed Dutch goalkeeper Robin Roefs, who immediately became the club's new number one. Patterson was limited to just one EFL Cup appearance in the first half of the 2025/26 season before being loaned out to Championship side Millwall.
Loan spell and pre-season meeting
At Millwall, Patterson played 16 matches and kept seven clean sheets as the Lions finished third, before losing 2-0 on aggregate to Hull City in the play-off semi-finals.
Patterson also featured against his prospective new club during Sunderland's pre-season tour of North America, replacing Roefs in the 60th minute as the Black Cats won 1-0 in Pennsylvania.
Third summer signing
Should the deal be confirmed, Patterson is likely to enter as Wrexham's new number one ahead of their Championship opener against Cardiff next Monday. It would mark the third permanent signing of their summer transfer window.
Wrexham confirmed the £5.1million signing of full-back Danny Imray from Crystal Palace on July 29, before bringing in Preston midfielder Ben Whiteman for £3million just four days ago.
