Wrexham close in on Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson
The 26-year-old is scheduled for a medical and could feature in the season opener against Cardiff City, while the move may trigger departures for current keepers Arthur Okonkwo and Danny Ward.
Wrexham are in advanced negotiations to sign goalkeeper Anthony Patterson from Sunderland, with the 26-year-old scheduled to undergo a medical in the coming days. Manager Phil Parkinson has identified the acquisition as a priority to strengthen the squad for the upcoming Championship season, with Patterson potentially available for the opening fixture against Cardiff City on 17 August.
The arrival of Patterson, a product of Sunderland’s academy, is expected to reshape the club’s defensive options. The move could facilitate the departure of current goalkeepers Arthur Okonkwo and Danny Ward, both of whom are in the final year of their contracts. Okonkwo, a Nigeria international, and Wales international Ward are understood to be open to exits as Wrexham look to finalise their roster for the competitive campaign.
Patterson brings significant experience to the Racecourse Ground, having helped Sunderland secure promotion to the Premier League during the 2024-25 season. He featured 45 times in the Championship that campaign, playing a key role in the play-off final victory over Sheffield United. His previous tenure at Sunderland included a loan spell at Millwall, where he made 16 appearances in the second half of the prior season.
The transfer represents a return for Patterson to a club where he previously played, having made his senior debut for the Black Cats in the 2020-21 EFL Trophy. He also spent time on loan at Notts County during the 2021-22 season before helping Sunderland gain promotion to the Championship via the League One play-offs. Patterson has represented England at the Under-21 level and has made 169 competitive appearances for Sunderland.
Wrexham have already bolstered their ranks this summer with the additions of full-back Danny Imray and midfielder Ben Whiteman. However, Parkinson has publicly acknowledged the need for further reinforcements, stating ahead of a recent Carabao Cup defeat to Middlesbrough that the squad was not yet at the required standard for the "incredibly competitive" division. Patterson himself featured as a substitute for Sunderland in a 1-0 pre-season friendly defeat to Wrexham on 2 August.
