Rob McElhenney has compared young Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo to NBA legend Michael Jordan while explaining the transfer gamble Wrexham took on him.
Following Ben Foster’s early retirement in the 2023-24 season, the Red Dragons needed a new shot-stopper and managed to persuade Okonkwo to leave Premier League giants Arsenal to join them in League Two.
The 22-year-old excelled at Wrexham, even after suffering a painful jaw injury. He kept 14 clean sheets and conceded just 28 goals, helping the Welsh club secure a runners-up finish and achieve back-to-back promotions.
Despite the risk of Okonkwo returning to Arsenal or moving to another club after his standout performances, McElhenney explained in the Welcome to Wrexham documentary series why they took the chance.
“He’s a Premier League-level keeper who just happens to be young and doesn’t have a place on the Arsenal squad yet. It would be as if it’s 1985 and the Chicago Bulls drafted Michael Jordan and they are like ‘Well, you’re a 20-year-old kid.’
“Then the Philadelphia 76ers were like ‘Hey, guess what Chicago? We’ll just take him off your hands for two or three years, build him up, and send him back to you.’ Then he comes to Philly, wins like three championships, and they’re like ‘Great, we’re gonna start a dynasty,’ but then Chicago is like ‘F*ck off, we’re taking him back.’ That’s exactly what it is!”
There remains a possibility that Okonkwo will return to SToK Racecourse for the 2024-25 season, as he is set to leave Arsenal as a free agent at the end of his contract. However, McElhenney and fellow co-chairman Ryan Reynolds are aware that the promising keeper is attracting interest from higher up the EFL ladder.