Key Takeaways
- Lee Solomon, a partner in Private Equity at Apollo Global Management, has been formally appointed as a director of Wrexham AFC, completing a process that began in February 2026.
- Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), the $5 billion sports‑focused platform of Apollo Global Management, acquired a minority stake (just under 10 %) in Wrexham in December 2025, valuing the club at roughly $468 million.
- The investment is primarily intended to fund the redevelopment of the Racecourse Ground, especially the new Kop Stand, which will increase capacity to 7,750 seats and help the club meet UEFA Category 4 standards.
- Despite Solomon’s board seat, co‑owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds retain controlling ownership (≈70‑75 %), and the overall power balance at the club remains unchanged.
- Apollo’s involvement also includes a majority shareholding in Atlético Madrid and a reciprocal stake in Mexican club Necaxa through a U.S.-led consortium.
Wrexham AFC has taken a concrete step toward deepening its ties with American private‑equity giant Apollo Global Management after the club’s board welcomed Lee Solomon as an official director. Solomon, who serves as a partner in the Private Equity division of Apollo, was first named to the role on February 6, 2026, but the appointment only became legally effective after a Companies House AP01 filing was processed on June 10, 2026. The filing confirms that Solomon now sits alongside the existing directors, giving Apollo Sports Capital (ASC) a formal voice in the club’s governance.
ASC, launched last year as a $5 billion platform dedicated to sports investments, had already secured a minority stake in Wrexham in December 2025. Although the exact percentage was never disclosed, reports indicate the holding is just under 10 % of the club, a transaction that valued Wrexham at approximately $468 million (£350 million). From the outset, Apollo signaled its intention to place a representative on the board once the investment was closed, and Solomon’s appointment fulfills that plan.
The primary motivation behind Apollo’s interest in Wrexham lies in the club’s ambitious stadium redevelopment. Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground is slated to receive a new Kop Stand, a project that began in 2025 and was originally projected to cost $95 million for a 7,500‑seat facility. To meet UEFA Category 4 requirements—necessary for hosting competitive men’s international matches—the club aims to expand the stand’s capacity. A revised planning application submitted last summer increased the planned seating to 7,750 seats, adding 2,250 extra spots. While the Welsh government has pledged a fixed grant of $23.46 million toward the project, the grant amount does not scale with the stand’s final size, leaving a funding gap that Wrexham needed to cover.
In response, Wrexham intends to contribute roughly $67.62 million from its own resources, leaving the remainder to be financed through external partners. Apollo’s minority investment supplies a portion of that external capital, aligning with the firm’s strategy of providing “long‑term, patient capital” to support sporting ventures. Solomon himself highlighted the broader vision after the deal was announced, stating that Wrexham is on an “incredible journey” and that Apollo Sports Capital aims to help the club, the local community, and co‑owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds achieve their goals while contributing to the revitalisation of the facilities and regional economy.
Although Solomon’s board seat gives Apollo a direct line into Wrexham’s strategic discussions, the ownership structure remains largely unchanged. Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds continue to hold a combined stake estimated between 70 % and 75 %, effectively retaining control of the club. Wrexham AFC Limited is wholly owned by Wrexham Holdings LLC, which in turn is majority‑owned by The R.R. McReynolds Company LLC. Additional minority interests include the Allyn family—former owners of Welch Allyn, Inc.—who hold roughly 15 % via Red Dragon Ventures LLC, and a U.S.-based consortium led by ASC executives Al Tylis and Sam Porter that holds about 5 % of the club. That consortium also holds a stake in Mexican club Necaxa, with McElhenney and Reynolds receiving a reciprocal interest in that side as part of the deal.
In sum, Lee Solomon’s formal appointment as a director consolidates Apollo Sports Capital’s presence at Wrexham, bringing financial backing and expertise to the stadium redevelopment project while preserving the controlling influence of the club’s Hollywood‑backed owners. The partnership underscores a growing trend of private‑equity firms seeking both financial returns and community impact through investments in historic football clubs, with Wrexham’s Kop Stand serving as a flagship example of how such capital can be leveraged to modernise infrastructure and elevate the club’s competitive aspirations.