Wrexham have reportedly reached an agreement to sign defender Jacques Ekomié from French side SCO Angers, with owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney believed to have blown rival clubs out of the water with a significant bid.
Gabon international Ekomié had been the subject of transfer interest this summer, with Wrexham's Championship rivals West Ham also reported to be in the race to secure the 23-year-old's signature. Meanwhile, Bundesliga side Hamburg also identified the left-back as a potential target earlier in the window.
Agreement reached with Angers
However, it is believed that Wrexham have won the race and struck a deal with the Ligue 1 side to bring Ekomié to north Wales. French outlet Foot Mercato reports that an agreement was reached between the two sides on Tuesday, with Hamburg unable to match the offer tabled by Reynolds and McElhenney.
The exact value of the transfer has not been publicly disclosed, but L’Équipe previously reported that Angers had slapped a €10m (£8.5m) price tag on the defender, it is believed Wrexham's bid is in that area.
Ekomié's career so far
Ekomié arrived at Angers on a free transfer from Bordeaux in 2024, and has gone on to make 54 appearances for the club. He made his debut for Gabon at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has won a total of 22 international caps.
The reported deal comes as a boost to Phil Parkinson and his side, after the Wrexham boss admitted they were having a challenging transfer window due to competing with other clubs to land quality signings.
Parkinson and Williamson speak out
"It's proving difficult, I have to say. It really is," he said ahead of his side's draw with Watford at the weekend. "We're trying, but equally, we've got a decent squad. I'm not saying we won't succeed, but the clock is ticking and it's just not easy for various situations."
Parkinson's words were echoed by Wrexham chief executive Mike Williamson, who told Radio Wales Sport earlier this week that the Championship club are going head-to-head with some of the biggest teams in Europe.
"Going into the transfer market this summer we said we would look to add some quality, not quantity," he said. "We have the foundations of a really strong Championship squad, so knew what we needed to be competitive and make a bit of a difference.
"We've been going after it but what happens is that the players we are after are top-quality players. It's about finding that quality and there are a few more pieces we want to bring in, but at times we are competing against some other big clubs out there."
"It's not just the Premier League and top-end Championship clubs but those in the top five of leagues around Europe," Williamson added. "That's who Wrexham are today – we are not looking to bring in just an average player, we are looking to bring in players who are recruited at the very top level."
