Wrexham Smash Transfer Record With £19m Cherif Bid

Wrexham’s ambition in the transfer market has hit new heights, as the Welsh club have submitted a Championship record-breaking £19 million bid for Angers’ 19-year-old striker Sidiki Cherif. The audacious move, confirmed on January 22, 2026, not only signals Wrexham’s intent to challenge for promotion but also puts them in direct competition with Premier League sides—most notably Crystal Palace—for one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards.

This latest offer, which includes a guaranteed £12 million up front and up to £7 million in bonuses, with a substantial promotion payment should Wrexham reach the Premier League, smashes the previous Championship transfer record. That mark was set just last August when Ipswich Town signed Sindre Walle Egeli for £17.5 million. For Wrexham, it’s yet another leap in their recruitment ambitions, having already broken their own transfer record three times in the summer of 2025, with Nathan Broadhead’s £10 million arrival from Ipswich Town the club’s previous high-water mark.

The Red Dragons’ bold approach comes as they look to bolster their squad for a potential playoff push. Currently ninth in the Championship, just two points adrift of the playoff spots, Wrexham’s recent form has been impressive. They enjoyed a five-match winning streak over the festive period, including victories against Sheffield United, Preston North End, Blackburn, and Derby, as well as a dramatic penalty shootout win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. However, the side has stumbled slightly of late, dropping five points in their last two outings—a 2-1 home defeat to Norwich and a 1-1 draw with Leicester. Their next test comes with a trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Sidiki Cherif, the subject of this record-breaking bid, has been a revelation for Angers this season. The 19-year-old has scored four goals in 18 Ligue 1 appearances (13 starts and five substitute appearances), making him the club’s top scorer. His goals have come against some of the toughest opponents in French football, including Champions League sides Monaco and Marseille, and he also found the net in consecutive matches against Lorient. Angers currently sit 11th in Ligue 1, and Cherif’s emergence has been a key factor in their campaign.

Interest in Cherif has been fierce. Crystal Palace, who recently spent £35 million on Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur, have been in advanced talks with Angers over the striker as they look to reinforce their attack amid rumors of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s departure. However, negotiations between Palace and Angers hit a snag, reportedly due to interference from English intermediaries. This delay opened the door for Wrexham, whose bid now threatens to upstage the Premier League side. According to reports, Cherif has already turned down an offer from Paris FC and is believed to be enticed by the prospect of immediate first-team football, something Wrexham can offer more readily than Palace, where competition for minutes would be fierce.

Wrexham’s pursuit of Cherif is emblematic of the club’s transformation in recent years. Backed by Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the club has not only enjoyed a meteoric rise through the English football pyramid but has also seen its commercial profile soar thanks to the success of the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series. This commercial boom has helped fund a transfer strategy that would have been unthinkable just a few seasons ago. As CEO Michael Williamson recently explained, "January windows are always challenging just because you don't know what the market is going to be. You look at your areas within the squad that you could use some additional support, whether it's because of injuries or if it's because of depth and you realise you might want an added piece to the squad. And then it's about whether or not that added piece is available or not."

The club’s approach this January has been measured. Despite spending over £30 million in the summer and welcoming 13 new players, Wrexham have not made any major signings so far this month. Departures have been limited to Jake Bickerstaff, who joined Cheltenham Town, and James McClean, who returned to Derry City. Manager Phil Parkinson has echoed the club’s careful planning, stating in December, "We're always reviewing the situation as you go into January, like every club will. But we made a lot of changes in the summer and we feel a lot of players have now settled into new houses in the area and are getting to know the environment. We'll always have one eye on it if the right player comes available, obviously. But we're enjoying working with the group we've got and we've got other players coming back into the group."

Should Cherif agree to the move, he would become Wrexham’s first January signing and instantly the most expensive player in the club’s history. More importantly, his arrival would send a clear message to the rest of the Championship—and beyond—that Wrexham are no longer content to be seen as underdogs. The club is determined to seize its moment and continue its remarkable ascent.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, face the prospect of missing out on a key target to a lower-division rival—a situation that would have seemed improbable not long ago. Palace’s transfer plans have already been complicated by the uncertainty surrounding Mateta’s future and a failed pursuit of Derby County’s Patrick Agyemang. For Cherif, the decision may come down to the promise of immediate first-team action at Wrexham versus the higher profile but more competitive environment at Selhurst Park.

Angers manager Alexandre Dujeux has been effusive in his praise for Cherif, describing him as "powerful and attacks space very well. For him the first goal was to see him continue with training sessions and matches. He needed to reassure himself and his (first) goal against Monaco did him a lot of good." That confidence has translated into performances on the pitch, with Cherif’s goals helping Angers remain unbeaten in matches against Monaco and Marseille.

As the January transfer window enters its final days, all eyes will be on Cherif’s decision. Will he opt for the bright lights of the Premier League, or will he take a leap of faith with Wrexham’s ambitious project? Either way, the outcome of this transfer saga could have major implications for both clubs’ seasons—and for the Championship landscape as a whole.

With the transfer window’s deadline fast approaching, Wrexham have made their intentions clear. Now, it’s up to Sidiki Cherif to decide where his future lies. The Red Dragons and their supporters wait with bated breath, hoping that the next chapter in their remarkable story will feature one of Ligue 1’s brightest young stars leading the line at the Racecourse Ground.