One of Wrexham’s most famous faces – Ollie Palmer – has departed the Championship side.

The striker, who had a brief cameo in Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, left by mutual consent with a year still left on his contract in Wales.

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Palmer has instead agreed a two-year deal with League Two side Swindon Town.

Wrexham co-owner Reynolds was greatly impressed by the player, dedicating a social media post to him with photos from their three-and-a-half seasons together.

“Gut punch…Ollie is a big reason we’re in this league today,” he wrote to his 51million Instagram followers. 

“Not to mention the boundless charisma and charm…he harnessed a lifetime of talent, heart and work-ethic to push Wrexham and the town forward.

“Spending time with Ollie’s amazing family: his wife, Caitlin, wonderful kids, and his dad, Andy, create everlasting memories. Ollie is my friend now and always.

“The bright side is Swindon is a fantastic club, and they will experience the same feeling Rob McElhenney and I had when Ollie steps onto the pitch at The County Ground to propel Swindon FC forward and up the ranks. Thank you, Ollie.”

Reynolds then went on to further explain how close their relationship was, and that his mum even had a crush on the 33-year-old.

“P.S. for the love of all that’s holy, DO NOT tell my Mom her boyfriend is changing shirts,” he hilariously wrote. 

“Tam-Tam is unpredictable. Swindon can expect her to storm the pitch to provide fresh orange slices to Ollie without warning.

“She’s 80 years old. But homegirl is strong. Despite it making no sense at all…she JUST NOW qualified for the 1988 Olympics. 

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“We suspect she’s on something a bit more potent than calcium supplements. Her birthday card to Hugh Jackman simply said, ‘Do you even lift, bro?’ That’s it. Not even ‘Happy birthday’.”

In fact, it’s not just the Canadian’s mother Tammy that he has to be careful introducing to Palmer, but also his wife, Blake Lively.

Speaking in 2023, he said: “Every time we’ve come as a family we’ve come over we have a walk down to the dressing room.

“Ollie is always the first one to walk out, completely shirtless, to have a conversation with my wife.

“I’m like Ollie put a f****** shirt on and come back out to speak to her like a gentleman.”

Palmer’s Wrexham legacy

Palmer initially joined Wrexham in January 2022 for a then-club record £300,000 from Wimbledon.

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The Dragons were in the National League at the time, and the Epsom-born striker aided in their journey to a record three consecutive promotions up to the Championship.

Neting 46 goals in 150 matches for the club, Palmer was a beloved figure and frequently appeared on the Disney+ series Welcome to Wrexham as one of the club’s most vocal players.

Commenting on his departure in a social media post, he said: “It’s been an absolute privilege and honour to be at this football club and to be able to achieve the things that we have.

“There’s going to be many more great moments for this football club and five, ten, fifteen or twenty years down the line, I want to be able to watch and be able to be in the stands and enjoy myself.

“The relationships within that dressing room are so strong. I think winning and getting promotion has definitely helped grow those bonds. 

“There’s just something special about this football club, something that you want to last forever.

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“Wrexham’s going to have a place in my heart for the rest of my life. It’s been the best three-and-a-half years of my career so far, easily, and it’s something that can never be taken away from me.”

It wasn’t just Reynolds who loved the goalscorer either, but also his co-owner McElhenney who paid his own tribute.

The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star wrote in an Instagram caption: “I think the first photo is the first time I met this gloriously handsome, supremely gifted, kind and charismatic man. 

“A great Husband, Dad, friend and of course footballer. Ollie, I can’t believe it’s time for you to move on. I’m in awe of your grace and (yes I swear) your humility.

“People only see what happens in public. They don’t know the Ollie I do. He’s given us so much. And I will miss him and his beautiful family. 

“My only hope is that he has success on the pitch and returns to us in some capacity because he will always, always, always be a member of Wrexham and always have a home with us.”