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Will Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith get Wrexham promoted? (0:33)
ESPN’s Mark Donaldson, Shaka Hislop and Luis Miguel Echegaray discuss Wrexham’s new signings Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith. (0:33)
Tom HamiltonJan 31, 2025, 12:06 PM ET
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• Joined ESPN in 2011
• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours
• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018Wrexham have announced the signings of former England striker Jay Rodríguez and forward Sam Smith, with sources telling ESPN that the deal for Smith is a club-record.
Rodríguez, 35, joins Wrexham from Burnley after undergoing a medical on Friday. He won his sole England cap in 2013.
Smith’s arrival from Reading was confirmed by Wrexham on Friday, and sources have told ESPN the deal is comfortably a club record for a transfer and has broken the £1 million ($1.2m) barrier. Smith has signed a three-and-a-half year deal.
“I’m excited to be a part of the journey now and I want to try to help the club achieve its ambitions,” Smith said.
Manager Phil Parkinson added: “Sam is a player we’ve been pursuing for a while.
“He’s a striker who’s done really well over the last few seasons and he’s at a great age.”
