Arriving at the STōK Cae Ras as Wrexham’s first signing of the summer window, Phil Parkinson has bolstered his defensive ranks, adding Will Boyle from Championship side Huddersfield Town.
Known best for his spell at Cheltenham Town, the left-footed defender would spend over five years at Whaddon Road and lifted the League Two title alongside Wrexham Club captain Ben Tozer in 2021.
Boyle started his career at the Terriers having originally come through their academy, making his debut for the club in February 2015, coming on as a late substitute in the Championship against Reading.
The defender would later join National League side Kidderminster Harriers on loan, where Boyle would further his footballing education in non-league. Following limited game time, he joined Macclesfield Town at the start of the 2015/16 season.
Having found appearances hard to come by at the Silkmen, Boyle's patience was rewarded as he stepped up to League Two with York City, joining the club on a short-term loan deal.
His debut for Minstermen came in a 3-2 defeat against Leyton Orient, where he would face off against current Wrexham striker Ollie Palmer, who previously played for the O’s from 2015-2017.
After making a strong impression during his time at the club, Boyle would return to the Kirklees Stadium in January.
Boyle went on to make one further appearance for the Terriers, eventually going back to Bootham Crescent in February 2016 on a loan deal until the end of the season.
The 27-year-old then made the move across to Scotland, as he joined Kilmarnock on a six-month loan, a move which allowed Boyle to play his highest number of senior matches since making his debut in 2015.
Having returned from York in January 2017, the defender was told by Huddersfield that his contract would not be renewed with the club and that he was free to leave.
Despite this, it would lead to the most important move of Boyle’s career. Having impressed Cheltenham Town manager Gary Johnson, he made the move down south to Cheltenham, with the club fighting to retain their League Two status.
The addition of Boyle would bolster Johnson’s defence, and despite a tense relegation battle, the Robins would eventually come out on top to ensure their survival in the EFL.
After spending over five years at Cheltenham, Boyle’s crowning moment came in 2021. Having fallen short in the previous season through the playoffs, Michael Duff’s side would go one better in the following season.
A famous FA Cup tie against Man City was to come in the fourth round of the competition. Despite falling to a late 3-1 defeat, the Robins bounced and later used the experience to succeed in their aims to gain promotion.
They did it in style too, beating Harrogate Town 4-1 on the final day of the season to lift the League Two title. Boyle more than played his part in the achievement too, scoring key goals along the way to fire his side to lift the trophy.
However, promotion wasn’t the only thing that Boyle achieved, as he was named in the EFL League Two Team of the Season, alongside Paul Mullin and Jordan Tunnicliffe.
Boyle continued to establish himself in League One, making 31 appearances and scoring four times during the 2021/22 season as Cheltenham recorded their highest-ever EFL finish in the club’s history.
After half a decade at Whaddon Road, the defender would make a move that would bring his career full circle, re-signing for Huddersfield on a free transfer in 2022.
Boyle appeared 16 times in the Championship over the 2022/23 season before making the move to North Wales, joining Wrexham on a three-year deal.