Wrexham transfer news: Joe Worrall joins from Burnley on two-year deal

Wrexham have signed Burnley defender Joe Worrall for an undisclosed fee.

The 29-year-old has agreed a two-year contract with the option for a further year.

Phil Parkinson has been eager to improve his defensive options and has now added former Nottingham Forest player Worrall to his ranks before Tuesday's 23:00 BST transfer deadline.

Wrexham have failed to keep a clean sheet in their opening four matches and are yet to win across all competitions in 2026-27.

After Friday's 2-1 defeat by Birmingham City, Parkinson declared his side had conceded "two of the softest goals" of his tenure as boss.

"I'm really pleased to be here. I'm super excited to get my teeth into working with good players, the manager and the ownership," said Worrall.

Parkinson 'under pressure' for first time

"I'm here to win football matches and achieve something special.

"Everything that Wrexham's about, I'm going to throw myself into it head-first and give my all for this badge."

Worrall has been an unused substitute in each of the Clarets' opening three Championship games of the season.

His sole appearance under new boss Nicky Hayen this term came in Burnley's EFL Cup first round victory over Notts County.

"We're delighted to welcome Joe to the club," Parkinson said.

"He's an experienced centre-half with good leadership qualities who's been part of promotions out of this division.

"We look forward to welcoming him into the squad."

Worrall started his career with Forest and made 226 appearances for his boyhood club before joining Burnley in the summer of 2024.

He was named Forest's player of the season in 2020-21.

The following campaign, he played a pivotal role in helping Forest gain promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs and was named in the second tier's team of the season for 2021-22.

Worrall had loan spells during his Forest career at Dagenham & Redbridge, Rangers and Besiktas, where he won the Turkish Cup during a loan spell with Besiktas in 2023-24.

He made 27 appearances in all competitions for Burnley .

Worrall arrives at the Racecourse Ground after 10-cap England international Conor Coady left Wrexham by mutual consent.

Coady had not featured in any of Wrexham's four matchday squads this season.

Elliot Lee, Harry Ashfield and Aaron James are among those who could leave Wrexham either on loan or permanently on deadline day.

The Red Dragons have signed goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, wing-backs Danny Imray, Issa Kabore and Jacques Ekomie and central midfielder Ben Whiteman so far this summer.

Wrexham could also recruit an additional forward in the final stages of the summer window.

Parkinson's side return to Championship action at Millwall on Wednesday night (19:45 BST).