Ryan Reynolds and Wrexham were a project the football world was not ready for. A Hollywood touch that changed the ambitions of a Welsh club.
The Canadian is a famous Hollywood actor born in Vancouver in 1976. He rose to global fame as Deadpool from Marvel Comics, while also delivering standout performances in Netflix’s The Adam Project and Free Guy. Reynolds has an Emmy award and a Golden Globe nomination to his name.
However, the real story lies in how the actor reshaped Wrexham’s ambitions.
Reynolds’ Wrexham acquisition
A couple of years ago, Wrexham were a team competing in the fifth tier of English football. In 2021, they were playing in the National League for the 14th consecutive year.
But the surprising change came when Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the club for £2 million in 2021 through their jointly owned company. The RR McReynolds Company LLC operated under Wrexham Holdings LLC, with RR McReynolds holding the majority of the shares, according to The Guardian.
This takeover caused a monumental change for the club. In just three years, Wrexham became the first team in the history of English football to earn three successive promotions. These events turned the club into one of Europe’s most compelling football stories in America.
Wrexham’s journey to the Championship
Good things come in threes, and that’s what happened for the Welsh side.
In 2025, Wycombe’s 1-0 defeat to Leyton Orient meant Wrexham needed to beat Charlton. And the Red Dragons did exactly what was needed, winning 3-0, with Oliver Rathbone scoring the opener and Sam Smith completing a brace. In the end, the side finished second and secured direct Championship promotion.
While speaking to Sky Sports about the promotion’s owner, Ryan said
“It just seemed like an impossible dream. We’re storytellers, and when you’re storytellers, you look at the macro view of this history.”
The Canadian spoke on the influence of the club’s history that helped the promotion
“We wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for the history of the club. The Gresford disaster and Mickey Thomas – who is a huge and pivotal point of aspiration for the club, and a goal to reach that feeling again.”
This was the first time they moved to the Championship since the 1980s.
The Club’s Economic Revival
ESPN reports that for the 2023-24 season, Wrexham’s revenue was £26.7 million. This was a record amount for League Two.
The Canadian actor’s intelligent investments, according to The Mirror, have increased value and are now estimated to have a net worth of between $400m (£300m) and $448m (£336m).
As of 2026, Reynolds and McElhenney have sold a stake in Wrexham to Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), as per Mirror reports. This marks a new major milestone as the club’s valuation soars to an eye-watering £350m.
Currently, the side sits 6th in the Championship with a Play-offs possibility very much in Red Dragan’s hands. If the side could go all the way, this season could turn out to be another fairytale.
