‘I didn’t want to go’: £35m Wrexham target explains Ryan Reynolds rejection

Lyon midfielder Pavel Sulc has revealed that he turned down the prospect of a remarkable £35m move to Wrexham during the summer transfer window, admitting that neither the club's Hollywood story nor its financial ambition was enough to tempt him into the Championship.

Wrexham's rise under Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has already transformed the club's standing in English football, but their failed pursuit of Pavel Sulc showed just how far their transfer ambitions have grown.

The Red Dragons were prepared to go as high as around £35m for the Czech Republic international during the summer window, a figure that would have represented an extraordinary investment for a Championship club.

Sulc ultimately remained at Lyon, and the 25-year-old has now confirmed that Wrexham were serious contenders for his signature.

Speaking to Seznam Zpravy, he revealed that Lyon had rejected other approaches because the money was not sufficient, before adding that Wrexham made the biggest proposal.

“Honestly? Wrexham is a cult club with a Hollywood fairytale story, but I didn't feel like going to the Championship or a small town in Wales,” Sulc said.

“I hope that doesn't sound too condescending.”

Wrexham's £35m offer underlined scale of ambition

The size of the proposed deal makes Sulc's revelation particularly striking.

Lyon signed the attacking midfielder from Viktoria Plzen before the 2025-26 season, and he quickly established himself as one of the French club's most productive attacking players.

Sulc finished his debut campaign with 14 goals and seven assists across 40 appearances in all competitions, having also emerged as one of the standout Czech players of the season.

That form attracted interest from elsewhere in Europe, including Juventus, while Premier League clubs were also linked with a move.

Wrexham, however, were prepared to push furthest financially.

Their willingness to consider a deal around £35m underlined the transformation that has taken place since Reynolds and McElhenney took control of the Welsh club.

After narrowly missing out on the Championship playoffs last season, Wrexham once again backed their promotion ambitions during the summer, with the club continuing to strengthen a squad now established in the second tier. Their 2026 transfer business already reflected a far more ambitious recruitment strategy than in previous years.

A move for Sulc would have taken that approach to another level.

It would also have represented a substantial profit for Lyon, who had signed the Czech international for a fraction of the amount Wrexham were prepared to discuss.

Juventus interest highlights why Sulc chose to stay

Sulc's comments also explain why Wrexham's financial strength was not enough.

After establishing himself in Ligue 1 and playing regularly at international level, the attacking midfielder did not view a move into the Championship as the right sporting step.

His reaction to Juventus interest offered a revealing contrast.

Sulc admitted that the possibility of joining the Italian giants allowed him to “dream”, pointing to the club's history, stadium and the attraction of playing in Italy. Juventus were not prepared to match Wrexham's level of investment, though, and no agreement was reached.

The Czech international therefore remained at Lyon and has continued to contribute at the start of the new campaign.

Wrexham eventually strengthened their attacking options elsewhere, including the deadline-day arrival of Callum O'Hare, but the Sulc episode remains one of the clearest examples yet of how dramatically their ambitions have changed.

The club are now financially capable of exploring deals that would once have appeared completely unrealistic.

Convincing established players to exchange one of Europe's top leagues for the Championship, however, remains a different challenge.

Sulc was impressed by the story surrounding Wrexham. He simply did not believe it was the right next step for his career.