Wrexham are finalising a permanent deal to sign Burnley defender Joe Worrall for a fee in the region of £2 million, as manager Phil Parkinson moves to reinforce his squad following a difficult start to the Championship campaign. The expected arrival could pave the way for other players to leave the club.
Worrall Close to Turf Moor Exit
Wrexham are closing in on a permanent transfer for Burnley centre-back Joe Worrall, with the club set to pay a fee in the region of £2 million to secure his signature. The 29-year-old has struggled for regular playing time at Turf Moor over recent seasons. He made just 13 appearances in all competitions last year and has spent much of the current campaign on the bench for the Lancashire side, aside from a 90-minute appearance against Notts County in the EFL Cup. Across all competitions, Worrall has made 27 appearances for Burnley.
Worrall originally moved to Burnley in the summer of 2024, ending a lengthy association with Premier League side Nottingham Forest. During his time at Forest, he made 226 appearances for his boyhood club and earned player of the season honours for the 2020-21 campaign. He also played a pivotal role in helping Forest gain promotion into the Premier League via the Championship play-offs in 2021-22, earning a spot in the second tier’s team of the season. His career path also included loan spells at Dagenham & Redbridge, Rangers, and Besiktas, where he won the Turkish Cup during the 2023-24 season before his switch to Turf Moor.
Championship Struggles Prompt Defensive Reinforcements
The move to add an experienced defender comes after a difficult start to the season for Wrexham in the Championship. The Welsh club are yet to win from their opening three fixtures, drawing twice and losing once.
While Wrexham already have five centre-back options in the squad—Max Cleworth, Callum Doyle, Zak Vyner, Dominic Hyam, and Dan Scarr—manager Phil Parkinson has deployed a three-at-the-back system in the Championship this season. The arrival of Worrall adds proven depth to a backline that has faced early-season pressure, and the Hollywood-owned club have also made headlines recently after being called out on social media for a badge redesign following an 8-word message sent by an English club.
Parkinson Hints at Further Transfer Activity
Speaking earlier in the week following the signings of Issa Kabore and Jacques Ekomie, Parkinson hinted that the club’s business might not be finished before the transfer window shuts. Wrexham have already been active this summer, adding goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, wing-backs Danny Imray, Issa Kabore, and Jacques Ekomie, and central midfielder Ben Whiteman.
“We’ve had a busy week and obviously the work continues, but now it’s focusing on the game tomorrow night [last Friday] and concentrating on what we’ve got to do.”
Phil Parkinson, Wrexham manager
In addition to defensive additions, Wrexham could recruit an additional forward in the final stages of the summer window.
Potential Departures Loom at the Racecourse Ground
The expected arrival of Worrall is likely to trigger movement in the opposite direction. According to reported squad logistics, the move could pave the way for 10-cap England international Conor Coady to leave the Welsh side. Coady, who joined Wrexham from Leicester City last summer, has not featured in any of the club’s four matchday squads across all competitions so far this season.
Further squad trimming is expected as the deadline approaches. Elliot Lee, Harry Ashfield, and Aaron James are also among the players who could depart the Racecourse Ground either on loan or permanently in the next 48 hours.
Immediate Fixture Pressures Ahead
As transfer negotiations reach their final stages, the team’s focus shifts back to the pitch. Parkinson’s side return to Championship action at Millwall on Wednesday night (19:45 BST).
