James McClean leaves Wrexham with immediate effect as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney stick to ‘special’ pledge

James McClean has left Wrexham with immediate effect to return home to sign for League of Ireland side Derry City.

McClean‘s contract at the Red Dragons did not expire until next summer, but he has departed early by mutual consent.

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He has re-signed for the club he played for from 2008 to 2011 in Derry, following 15 years in British football.

The 36-year-old joined Wrexham in 2023 and has gone on to play over 100 games for the Welsh side, aiding their incredible rise.

McClean was their club captain, but found himself struggling for minutes in the new year.

A suspension picked up in December saw him drop down the pecking order and now he’s left the SToK Cae Ras.

He was not named in the Wrexham squad for their Championship clash against Norwich City on Saturday afternoon.

And it was later confirmed by his former and new clubs that he had signed a multi-year contract back in Northern Ireland.

Speaking after his move to Derry was officially announced, McClean said: “It is no secret what this club means to me, it was always the plan to come home.

“Its a bit surreal that it’s here and it’s happened, but I can’t wait to get started. Wrexham and how they have dealt with this, absolute touch of class, they made it as easy as possible to come home. I spoke to the manager and I told him the place I want to go is home.”

He added: “I like challenges in my career and this is now probably one of the best challenges I get to take on. 

“This is the last club of my career, this is where I am ending my career.  If I were to win a League title here and go out in that way, I couldn’t write the script any better.”

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Reynolds and McElhenney’s pledge

McClean’s move away from Wrexham comes as Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney stick to their pledge.

The duo have allowed their captain to go ahead with a transfer as the return home to Northern Ireland will be ‘special’ to him.

Red Dragons CEO Mike Williamson explained: “We’ve been a club that’s always been supportive of what players are looking to do and giving them the opportunities that they look for.

“That’s come straight from Rob and Ryan, where they’ve shown with some of the players who aren’t part of the project and the journey as you go forward and move up, they’ve always done right by the players.

“Making sure when they have an opportunity to do something that they feel is important to them and special to them, that we support them 100 per cent.

“It’s the same sort of situation with Jimmy.”

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A career filled with controversy

McClean has left British football to return to Derry City, 15 years after departing the club to sign for Sunderland.

In that time, he’s certainly built himself a controversial reputation in the game across his spells at six different teams.

The Republic of Ireland international has often been targeted by fans due to his refusal to wear a poppy around Remembrance Sunday.

That is a stance he maintains to this day and he has defended his decision on multiple occasions.

He was handed a special exemption in 2024 by the EFL to help prevent abuse from supporters.

The exemption came after clashes with Birmingham City fans and Mansfield and Shrewsbury supporters in recent years.

Many more issues have littered his career in the Premier League and EFL too, but McClean will now hope for a smoother end to his career back in his homeland with Derry.