Hardie departs on loan as Wrexham continue Championship preparations
Wrexham have loaned striker Ryan Hardie to Bolton Wanderers for the coming season, the club confirmed on Tuesday. The 29‑year‑old forward, who arrived at the Racecourse Ground from Plymouth Argyle in the summer of 2025, has made 10 appearances for the Red Dragons but will spend 2026/27 with the newly promoted Sky Bet Championship side.
The move reunites Hardie with Steven Schumacher, the manager he worked under during his successful spell at Plymouth, including the League One title campaign in 2022–23. Hardie described Schumacher as a key influence on his career and said he was looking forward to linking up again on Bolton’s bench.
“He was one of the reasons I went to Plymouth and one of the reasons why I did so well there… he’s a massive part in it and I’m looking forward to working with him again.”
Context and career to date
Hardie began his career with Rangers before establishing a prolific record at Plymouth Argyle. Across two loan spells and a permanent stay between 2020 and 2025 he scored 74 goals for Argyle, a return that underpinned his reputation as a reliable League One striker.
Wrexham paid around $945,000 to bring Hardie to North Wales after the club’s promotion to the Championship, and he became one of the club’s early signings following that success. But competition for places intensified during the summer transfer window with the arrivals of other forwards, and Hardie started only twice in Championship fixtures for Wrexham, scoring once in 10 appearances — his sole goal coming in the Carabao Cup win over Preston North End.
Recent seasons and loan experience
Hardie spent the latter part of the previous campaign on loan at Huddersfield Town, where he scored twice in six appearances before an injury curtailed that spell in March. He also missed part of Wrexham’s pre‑season and was unable to travel with the squad for their tour of the United States as a result.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson commented after the deal was completed, offering his best wishes to the striker as he seeks regular first‑team football at Bolton. The club released a statement expressing similar sentiments, thanking Hardie and wishing him well for the season ahead.
- Player: Ryan Hardie, 29
- From: Wrexham AFC
- To: Bolton Wanderers (season‑long loan)
Fixture implications and wider transfer picture
Under the terms of the loan, Hardie will be ineligible to face Wrexham this season. The two clubs are scheduled to meet at Bolton on Friday, 11 December, with the return fixture at the Racecourse Ground pencilled in for Friday, 1 January 2027. Bolton, having secured promotion from League One through the playoffs last term, will now have extra firepower as they prepare for a Championship campaign.
For Wrexham, the departure of Hardie arrives as the club continues to adjust its squad after promotion. The club has been active in the transfer market and is reported to be pursuing further signings to strengthen the squad for life back in the second tier.
| Statistic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wrexham appearances (to date) | 10 |
| Goals for Wrexham | 1 (Carabao Cup v Preston) |
| Goals for Plymouth (2020–25) | 74 |
Local supporters will watch closely to see how Hardie settles at Bolton and whether the move helps him rediscover the consistent scoring form he enjoyed at Plymouth. For Wrexham, the club must now balance replacing attacking options with maintaining depth across a long Championship season — a familiar challenge for communities and clubs across Wales as they adapt to life at a higher level.
As the transfer window progresses there will be more movement and decisions to come; for now, Wrexham fans will bid farewell to a player who has already provided memorable moments in English football’s lower tiers and wish him well as he seeks regular football in a familiar managerial setting.
