Story byDefender Max Cleworth joined Wrexham at the age of 12 [Rex Features]BBCFri, January 16, 2026 at 5:48 PM UTC·2 min readMax Cleworth has signed a new contract with Wrexham running until the summer of 2029, with the option of an additional year. The defender has played a key role in each of the club's three successive promotions and has featured 27 times across all competitions for the Red Dragons so far this season. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"It means a lot. To have come through the academy and progressed over the years, to get a new contract is something I'm really proud of," said the centre-back."It's been a mad journey – a crazy rollercoaster – but one which I've thoroughly enjoyed."I've always wanted to test myself against the best players possible, and I feel I've adapted well. Hopefully we can now continue to be successful, both personally and as a club, and keep pushing in that one direction."Latest Wrexham news, analysis and fan viewsWrexham's 'top' squad determined to deliverCleworth has won the club's young player of the season award on three occasions and was named in the EFL League One team of the year for 2024-25. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe was also voted players' player of the season at Wrexham last year. Such has been his impressive rise, Cleworth was recently linked with a move to Premier League Aston Villa, although manager Phil Parkinson swiftly shut down talk of a possible exit. After Cleworth was left out of the matchday squad for Wrexham's FA Cup third-round win over Nottingham Forest last weekend, Parkinson said: "I haven't heard that [Villa link] at all.