A 24 year old Red Dragons starter has already become a Wrexham legend within 3 years. Surprisingly, he joined Phil Parkinson’s men on a free transfer in the past.
At every club, there are various tiers by which current and former players are ranked among fans for their respective stays at the club. The ones who underperformed at a certain club are often billed as flops or fringe players, depending on the transfer fee they were brought for and the expectations placed on them upon their arrival.
A similar story prevails among Wrexham fans, who have long grown used to calling expensive buys like Conor Coady a flop while relatively cheaper picks like Ryan Hardie as fringe players. Now, let’s touch down on the other side of the coin which contains Red Dragons fan favourites.
Wrexham stars who drop a single season worth remembering come under the “one season wonders” tag. Those who stay fit and firing for a handful of years are talked as cult-heroes, and beyond this stage, a select few consistent standouts earn the distinction of a Wrexham legend.
What does it take to become a Wrexham legend?
The last one is the tag, every new Dragons recruit wishes to claim when they set foot at Wrexham for the first time.
However, is it a smooth sailing journey to become a club legend? Simple answer, NO.
There are plenty of checkboxes one needs to tick before being talked around in Wrexham legends discussions. Starting from appearances, every in-form player in Phil Parkinson’s squad who wishes to attain the legendary status should remain an undebatable starter for as many years as possible.
That alone requires at least 5 to 10 strong seasons at the Racecourse, sometimes even rejecting a few tempting transfer offers from the Premier League and abroad. After all, being a legend in one place isn’t for every professional player who donned the Wrexham badge.
Arthur Okonkwo is already a Wrexham legend
Now, this statement will catch many Wrexham fans off guard. Everybody knows the club’s No.1 has been in the building for only 3 years, which will get completed in early June.
So, Okonkwo is quite ahead of the schedule to be a Wrexham legend, no doubt. However, the Nigerian shot-stopper has made immense progress in the clean sheets metric, which is regarded as the biggest benchmark for testing a goalkeeper’s talent.
As pointed out by @WrexhamLowdown on X(formerly Twitter): “After another shutout away to Blackburn Rovers, Arthur Okonkwo made it to 40 LEAGUE clean sheets for Wrexham – achieved in just 91 league appearances.
Arthur joins Chris Maxwell in joint 7th place on the all-time list and is now just two behind Dai Davies in 5th.”
For sure, Okonkwo is going to make the fifth spot his own, that too, probably at the end of January itself. It will statistically make him the fifth best glovesman to lineup for Wrexham ever, which is the stuff of legends.
Should Okonkwo aim to chase a Premier League ticket with Wrexham, no matter how long it takes, his legend at Wrexham will only grow further with time. Realistically, Okonkwo can bag a top 3 podium spot among the Dragons greatest save makers, unless he requests a transfer exit either in 2026 or next year’s summer window.
Wrexham pulled a masterstroke with Arthur Okonkwo signing
Looking back on his 2023 arrival on loan from parent club Arsenal, it’s crystal clear Wrexham struck a bargain for the present and future. Plus, the fact that Okonkwo cost the club nothing when he penned a free agent contract the following year makes his transfer a win-win deal on all fronts.
Further, there is a potential for a big Arthur Okonkwo transfer payday for Wrexham, let’s not forget that. At some point of time, Okonkwo might be willing to try out a new challenge.
Then, whatever fee the Dragons will command from his sale will be 100% profit owing to no transfer fee investment done in Okonkwo’s case. Hopefully, Wrexham fans get to enjoy more of Okonkwo’s heroics in goal before that exit day comes.
