Lingard’s return to homeland - potential reinforcement for Hollywood star's project

Jesse Lingard could be set for a final chapter in British football, with Wrexham emerging as a surprise destination for the free agent after his contract with FC Seoul expired. The former Manchester United and England midfielder is back on the market following his spell in South Korea, and his name is now being linked with the ambitious North Wales club backed by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as they continue their push toward the Premier League.

At 33, Lingard has no intention of calling time on his career. He feels his experience in Asia has only reinforced the belief that he can still compete at a high level, with previous speculation even pointing toward a possible move to MLS alongside stars such as Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min.

The Old Trafford academy product has made it clear that he remains “open” to new opportunities, telling The Guardian that interest could arrive from anywhere, including: “Europe, Saudi, UAE…” Former United striker Dwight Yorke, who worked closely with Lingard during his time at the club, believes the midfielder could still make an impact in the Middle East alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and other marquee names.

“Jesse is an interesting character. I've always kept an eye on him due to the United connection. I really don't know what his priority is right now, but he still obviously wants to play football, and at the Championship level, there's no question he'd be an asset. Whether he wants to return to England, enjoys his life abroad, or is looking for one more pay deal in a league like Saudi Arabia, a top-seven team there would certainly take a punt on him. He has name recognition and has done reasonably well in South Korea."

However, the prospect of Lingard linking up with Wrexham has sparked particular curiosity. With his global recognition and strong social media presence, he would be a natural fit for the club’s high-profile ownership, the Welcome to Wrexham documentary, and their wider mission to climb all the way to the top tier of English football.

Wrexham, who consistently shattered their own transfer benchmarks in the summer of 2025 by spending over 30 milion pounds on new signings, have once again turned their attention to the market with the January window now open.

Lingard would be an immediate solution for the starting lineup, bringing extra imagination and craft to the heart of midfield and supplying quality service to forwards such as Sam Smith, Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass.

The Red Dragons arrive in strong form, having won their last four games, and currently occupy ninth place in the Championship standings — just a single point outside the play-off spots.