Bristol City CEO: Why We Rejected Wrexham Bid for 'Integral' Harambee Stars Defender Zak Vyner

Bristol City chief executive Tom Rawcliffe has revealed the club is "really happy" to have kept Zak Vyner this summer after rejecting an offer for the defender from Wrexham.

The newly-promoted Championship side submitted a bid for the 28-year-old late in the transfer window, but it was turned down by the Robins.

Vyner, who has been with the club since he was 10, is in the final year of his contract, meaning he could leave on a free transfer next summer.

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"We're really happy we managed to keep Zak Vyner. Wrexham were in for him, and I can understand the appeal of Wrexham and Hollywood money and everything else and the excitement," Rawcliffe told BBC Radio Bristol's Sound of the City.

"I think it shows the commitment to keeping the core of our squad which did so well last season, having that backing of the ownership that we don't have to accept any bid that comes in," he added. "Zak Vyner is a really integral part of our team and, as a man, is exactly the sort of person you want in that changing room and representing Bristol City."

Rawcliffe, who was appointed chief executive in July after serving as chief operating officer and chief financial officer, is hopeful that talks for a new contract with the defender can now progress.

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has already tipped the London born defender, who is born to a Kenyan father and an English mother, to be an integral part of his squad in future.

The defender earned a call up to the squad in June 2024 under Engin Firat, but the documentation to allow him to feature for Kenya was not ready on time, but it is an issue that has now been resolved.

“I spoke personally to Zac, and obviously, with the championship and Premier League just starting, he just felt that it was a little bit too early because of the accumulation of games already in such a short span of time,” Benni McCarthy told the media earlier this month..

“He didn’t want to put himself in a situation where he would go back because he is in his last year of contract, and he is also fighting to get a new contract for his club.

“You have to respect that, and I’ve been in that kind of situation before, so, I try to understand from players and the national point of view.”

Benni McCarthy noted that he cannot compel players to come and play in the qualifiers, as it would feel forced, and when they are pressured into something, they rarely give their best effort.

However, he assured fans that Zak Vyner has expressed the desire to play for Harambee Stars, and they should expect to see him soon.

“I’m always on the side of the players because I want happy players to come and play because once they step on that pitch, you will get good results,” Benni McCarthy added.

“We reached an agreement, and he wants to come and play for the national team, and we shall see him soon.”