Latest news with #PhilParkinson
Leader Live
a day ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham AFC: Liberato Cacace excited to join 'special club'
The left-back, who has been capped 33 times for New Zealand, has left Serie B side Empoli and signed a contract keeping him at The Racecourse until the end of the 2027-2028 season. Cacace spent the last three-and-a-half years with Empoli having joined initially on loan from Belgium outfit Sint-Truiden in January 2022 before making the move permanent that summer. He was a key player in 2024-25, scoring twice in 33 games in Serie A, but he was unable to help keep Empoli in Italy's top flight and he has decided to move on following their relegation. Despite struggling in the league, there was a run to the semi-final of the Coppa Italia last term and the 24-year-old, who made 76 appearances across three seasons in Serie A, is looking to pick up where he left off for Wrexham in the Championship. "It is not great when you are relegated but on a personal note, last season was my best season for Empoli in terms of goals and assists," said Cacace. "We made the semi-final of the cup and I played every minute on the cup run. "I was very pleased with my development. Over the last three years, I have definitely improved every season and I am just looking to continue from that. "That did create a lot of interest, especially when I was looking to leave at the end of the season. "There were offers but once Wrexham came to the table, this was where my heart was." Cacace was nominated for the Best Men's FIFA 11 Award after lifting the 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup with New Zealand as captain, which saw him named the most valuable player at the tournament. He began his career at home-town club Wellington Phoenix, who beat Wrexham 1-0 at Sky Stadium on Saturday in the Reds' final game of the pre-season tour Down Under, before making the move to Europe to join Sint-Truiden in the summer of 2020. The switch to north Wales was completed despite Wrexham being on the other side of the world and Cacace is delighted to join the Reds who made history last season after securing a third successive promotion. "It's been a long process and it's also been difficult with the time-zone with the club being over in New Zealand," said Cacace. "But I am happy to get it over the line and I can't wait to meet everyone. "I have always wanted to play in the UK and there's also the factor of what they are building at Wrexham. MORE WREXHAM AFC NEWS Phil Parkinson reacts to Wrexham's 1-0 defeat to Wellington Phoenix Luke Bolton leaves Wrexham and signs permanent deal with Mansfield Town "Everyone can see that and I wanted to be a part of that as well, and it's also the Championship. "It all fitted into place and it's definitely the right move for me." Wrexham are owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and Cacace added: "I think Wrexham would appeal to any player with what they are creating here. "You can't shy away from that. The club is run well and it is a really family orientated club."
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Wrexham complete signing of George Thomason from Bolton
Wrexham's preparations for the Championship continue to gather pace with Bolton Wanderers captain George Thomason becoming their fourth summer signing. The 24-year-old midfielder has signed a three-year deal after the two clubs agreed a fee believed to be in the region of £1.2 million ($1.62m). He will join up with his new team-mates later this week after the squad today landed back in the UK after a fortnight away on tour in Australia and New Zealand. 'I'm buzzing to be here,' says Thomason, who faced Wrexham three times last season in the league and EFL Trophy. 'And I can't wait to be part of the journey the club has been on. It's going to be a really exciting season.' Another bold move, Welcome to Wrexham, George Thomason. 🔴⚪ #WxmAFC — Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) July 21, 2025 He joins Ryan Hardie, Danny Ward and record signing Liberato Cacace as the new faces in Phil Parkinson's squad. Further additions are planned with Josh Windass also wanted following his recent departure from Sheffield Wednesday after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. Thomason gained a reputation as an energetic box-to-box midfielder at Bolton, suggesting he could slot in on the left side of Wrexham's trio of central midfielders if Parkinson sticks with a 3-5-1-1 set-up. Alternatively, should the manager persist with the experiment of playing two attacking midfielders behind a lone striker — as seen for an hour in the final tour defeat to Wellington Phoenix last Saturday — then Thomason could fill one of those roles. He's also renowned for a competitive edge, having picked up 11 yellow cards in League One last season — the joint-tenth highest tally in the division, alongside Wrexham captain James McClean. Thomason, who was also on League one side Huddersfield Town's radar this summer, becomes only the third seven-figure signing in Wrexham's history, behind record buy Liberato Cacace (an initial £2.17m) and Sam Smith (£2m). ()
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wrexham close in on Bolton midfielder Thomason
Wrexham are hopeful of signing Bolton Wanderers midfielder George Thomason as boss Phil Parkinson continues reshaping his squad for the new Championship is under contract at Bolton until 2027, meaning Wrexham will have to pay a significant fee to secure his 24-year-old has scored 13 goals in 169 Bolton appearances since joining the club from non-league outfit Longridge Town in 2020.A left-footed central midfield player, Thomason captained League One side Wanderers at times last season, when he scored five goals in 46 helped the Lancashire club secure promotion from League Two in 2020-21 and to victory in the Football League Trophy two years are also hoping to finalise a deal for forward Josh Windass, who is a free agent after leaving Sheffield Wednesday, as they prepare for a first second-tier campaign since 1981-82. Parkinson has already brought in Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward from Leicester City, forward Ryan Hardie from Plymouth Argyle and left-back Liberato Cacace for a club-record fee from begin the new season with a trip to Southampton on Saturday, 9 August.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Wrexham ready to complete stunning £10m striker deal but Ryan Reynolds and co could face transfer battle with Derby
WREXHAM have a staggering £10MILLION to spend on a striker but have not found their man yet. Boss Phil Parkinson can smash the Championship club's signing record on a No 9 but so far no targets have worked out. 4 Wrexham are on a remarkable journey and winning back to back promotion Credit: Rex 4 Josh Windas scored 13 goals for Sheffield Wednesday last season Credit: Rex 4 Michael Smith is also on Wrexham's radar this summer Credit: Getty The Red Dragons are fighting Derby for forward Josh Windass, 31, after he left Sheffield Wednesday. Windas is seen an experienced head in the Championship having scored 13 times for Sheffield Wednesday last season. He would add the critically needed calm head as Wrexham plot another historic campaign. Another striker in the same category is Michael Smith, who left the Owls and is waiting to see if Wrexham renew their interest after having bids rejected last term. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS Ryan Reynolds and co. are aware that signing an experienced striker from the Championship is likely to come at a club-record fee. One that will come just days after they confirmed the signing of The deal for the left-back from Empoli was confirmed as a club-record £4m, but it doesn't look like it will stand for long. The previous club record was set by Sam Smith, who was signed in January for just £2m, as the ambitious club continues to bolster their squad. Most read in EFL BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 Wrexham have been on a meteoric rise, going from non-league to the second tier in just four years with a record-breaking run of promotions. The aim this season is to secure another promotion that will land them in the Premier League. EFL star sparks furious brawl and chased by opponents after 'one of the worst tackles you'll ever see in a friendly' They are currently on a pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia as they bid to leave no stone unturned ahead of their first-ever Championship season. But there is no doubt that in the coming days, they will smash their transfer record as they strategically position themselves for another historic campaign.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Wrexham ready to complete stunning £10m striker deal but Ryan Reynolds and co could face transfer battle with Derby
WREXHAM have a staggering £10MILLION to spend on a striker but have not found their man yet. Boss Phil Parkinson can smash the Championship club's signing record on a No 9 but so far no targets have worked out. 3 3 3 The Red Dragons are fighting Derby for forward Josh Windass, 31, after he left Sheffield Wednesday. Windas is seen an experienced head in the Championship having scored 13 times for Sheffield Wednesday last season. He would add the critically needed calm head as Wrexham plot another historic campaign. Another striker in the same category is Michael Smith, who left the Owls and is waiting to see if Wrexham renew their interest after having bids rejected last term. Ryan Reynolds and co. are aware that signing an experienced striker from the Championship is likely to come at a club-record fee. One that will come just days after they confirmed the signing of New Zealand international Liberato Cacace. The deal for the left-back from Empoli was confirmed as a club-record £4m, but it doesn't look like it will stand for long. The previous club record was set by Sam Smith, who was signed in January for just £2m, as the ambitious club continues to bolster their squad. Wrexham have been on a meteoric rise, going from non-league to the second tier in just four years with a record-breaking run of promotions. The aim this season is to secure another promotion that will land them in the Premier League. EFL star sparks furious brawl and chased by opponents after 'one of the worst tackles you'll ever see in a friendly' They are currently on a pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia as they bid to leave no stone unturned ahead of their first-ever Championship season. But there is no doubt that in the coming days, they will smash their transfer record as they strategically position themselves for another historic campaign.
