Wrexham pay new club record fee to sign Ollie Rathbone

Wrexham AFC say they are “delighted” to announce the signing of Ollie Rathbone from Rotherham United for a club record but undisclosed fee, subject to EFL approval.

Midfielder Rathbone has signed a contract until the end of the 2026/27 season.

Rathbone, 27, has played nearly 200 games in League One across spells with Rochdale and Rotherham United, and spent the last two season in the Championship with the Millers – after helping them to promotion in 2022.

On signing, he said: “I’m delighted. I’m really excited to be here and to get going.

“To have back-to-back promotions, the Club is obviously doing something very right from the outside looking in. There’s nowhere I’d rather be signing.

“I’m really glad the move has been completed. It’s going to be a long season, but I’m hopeful that we’ll have another successful season.”

A product of Manchester United’s academy, Rathbone made his professional debut in League One with Rochdale and went on to make 183 appearances for the club across five seasons. He scored 15 goals for the Dale and counted Andy Cannon and Eoghan O’Connell among his team-mates during his stay there.

He signed for Rotherham United in 2021, making 42 league appearances in their promotion-winning campaign, and winning the EFL Trophy. He went on to make 128 appearances for the Millers in total, before his move to the STōK Cae Ras.

The transfer is pending EFL approval – Rathbone will not be in the matchday squad for tomorrow’s opening game of the season against Wycombe Wanderers.

On the signing, manager Phil Parkinson said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ollie to the Club. He’s a player with experience at Championship level and a promotion from League One earlier in his career.

“We’re looking forward to working with him.”