Wrexham smash transfer record for third summer signing as 'deal agreed' for Serie A star out of nowhere

Wrexham have reportedly broken their transfer record by signing a versatile left-sided player who has played in Serie A, according to reports.

Wrexham are currently preparing for the Championship and will be hoping to secure a fourth consecutive promotion in 2025/26.

And ahead of the campaign, it has been a summer of change for the Red Dragons.

In May, the club released eight players, including former Premier League striker Steven Fletcher. While fan favourite Paul Mullin has since been loaned to League One side Wigan Athletic.

In terms of incomings, the club owned by North American actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have gone about their business quietly with just two players – former Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward and Plymouth forward Ryan Hardie – arriving at the club this summer despite the North Wales club being linked with Premier League-level players such as free agents Aaron Cresswell and Jamie Vardy.

Wrexham are on tour in Australasia (Credit:Getty)

However, a New Zealand international with Serie A experience could soon be playing his football at the Racecourse Ground.

On Wednesday, Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported that “Liberato Cacace's move to Wrexham is a done deal” with a fee thought to be around “€2.5 million (£2.2m) plus bonuses”.

This is around €100,000 more than the €2.4m (£2.1m) that the Red Dragons paid for Sam Smith when he joined from Reading in January 2025.

Left-back/winger Cacace, 24, came through the ranks at Island Bay United before joining Wellington Phoenix in 2016. He then signed for Belgian outfit Sint-Truidense in 2020 before penning a move to Italy-based Empoli in 2022.

Liberato Cacace in action for Empoli (Credit:Getty)

The 24-year-old, who's been capped 33 times by New Zealand, produced two goals and four assists for the Italian side in 2024/25 as Empoli were relegated to Serie B.

Ironically, Wrexham will face Cacace's former club Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand on July 19. The Red Dragons defeated Melbourne Victory 3-0 on July 11 and lost 2-1 to Sydney FC on July 15.

Why are Wrexham touring New Zealand and Australia?

Phil Parkinson and his side are currently around 10,000 miles from North Wales as they continue their pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand. In the past two years, Wrexham have toured North America following the growth in the club's popularity in the region since Reynolds and McElhenney invested back in 2021. So why have they chosen to visit Australasia instead?

"From the very beginning, we wanted to make Wrexham a globally-recognised team, town and brand. We could not be more excited to bring the Red Dragons to Australia and New Zealand, and we are particularly proud that this announcement features neither a Men at Work or Hugh Jackman joke," the co-owners said upon the announcement of the tour.

Australia was the third biggest audience for the 'Welcome to Wrexham' series behind the UK and US.