Former Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward has rejoined Wrexham after leaving Leicester City
Leicester City goalkeeper Danny Ward after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leicester City at Anfield
Leicester City goalkeeper Danny Ward after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leicester City at Anfield
(Image: 2022 Visionhaus)
Liverpool have missed out on a transfer windfall after Danny Ward rejoined Wrexham on a free transfer. The Reds signed the then 18-year-old goalkeeper in a £100k deal from the Welsh outfit back in January 2012.
The 32-year-old went on to make three appearances during six years at Anfield, and also enjoyed successful loan stints at Morecambe, Aberdeen and Huddersfield Town - winning promotion to the Premier League with the latter in 2017.
The shot-stopper would then join Leicester City in a £12.5m deal in the summer of 2018, after Liverpool signed Alisson Becker in a £65m deal, but found himself as deputy to Kasper Schmeichel for the majority of his stay at the King Power Stadium.
Ward officially left Leicester at the end of his contract on Monday (June 30), after the Foxes were relegated back to the Championship last season. He made 52 appearances during his seven years at the club.
Liverpool had included a 20% sell-on clause in the deal that took Ward to Leicester back in 2018. But by the Wales international leaving the club on a free transfer, the Reds have missed out on any windfall.
And over 13 years after leaving Wrexham for Liverpool, the goalkeeper has wasted no time in finding a new employer after rejoining his old club on a Bosman transfer.
Wrexham, who are famously owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, secured a memorable third-successive promotion last year as they finished second in League One to earn their place in this season’s Championship.
And Ward is now looking to repay the club’s faith in him after returning back to where it all started prior to his move to Anfield.
“It’s an exciting time and an amazing feeling to be back at the club,” he said after putting pen to paper with the Red Dragons.
“I’m forever grateful for the opportunity that the club gave me at an early age and I hope I can repay that.”
Ward, who boasts 44 international caps, has signed a contract until the end of the 2026/27 season and will compete with Arthur Okonkwo for starting status under manager Phil Parkinson.
Reacting to the signing of the goalkeeper, Parkinson said: “We’re delighted to welcome Danny back to Wrexham. He’s a keeper with a lot of experience and he’s going to be a great addition to the squad.”
Meanwhile, the former Liverpool goalkeeper can now be expected to feature in FX’s ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ fly-on-the-wall sport documentary series.
He previously appeared in the infamous ‘Being: Liverpool’ fly-on-the-wall documentary back in 2012, documenting Brendan Rodgers’ first months in charge of the club after taking over as manager.