Ex-West Brom and Cardiff City star Romaine Sawyers signs for EFL club | OneFootball

The Saint Kitts and Nevis international has been without a club since being released by Cardiff City in June.

AFC WImbledon have announced the signing of former Brentford, West Brom and Cardiff midfielder Romaine Sawyers.

The Saint Kitts and Nevis international, who has played exactly 400 league games across England's top four divisions, has been without a club since being released by Cardiff City in June.

Sawyers, 33, has initially been granted a one-month contract by the Wombles, as he joins their League Two promotion push.

'A good fit for me' says Romaine Sawyers

The move, announced by the club website on Thursday evening, has been built as a short-term project for Sawyers, with the potential to continue past the new year.

Having captained Brentford as recently as 2019, in a team featuring the likes of Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins, Sawyers should, in theory, thrive in League Two. However, without a club for the last six months, the immediate impact expected of the midfielder could yet prove difficult.

Sawyers spoke with excitement upon his arrival, also alluding to being overqualified for the job.

“It’s a good fit for me – a young manager and squad that is trying to push in the right direction,” said Romaine. “Wimbledon narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season, we have some injuries right now but I feel there’s the talent required to go one better.

“For me personally, it feels good to get back into a position to start playing again after a few months without a club. My aim is to come in and utilise my experience to help the boys get some results over the busy Christmas period.

“I’ve played at this level and at the three above it, I like to think it’s natural for me to help others and offer advice, having been captain at clubs in the past. I’ll be aiming to offer that in training and on matchdays.”

Sawyers, saving himself from footballing obscurity

Having reached the dizzy heights of the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion in 2020, his career has taken something of a nosedive since.

The Baggies were relegated at the first time of asking, while Sawyers was loaned to Stoke, signing for Cardiff City on a permanent deal the subsequent season.

He played 37 times in his first campaign in the Welsh capital, though upon the arrival of Erol Bulut, was told he could leave despite having a year left on his contract. He saw out the remainder of his deal, playing just 357 minutes across the entirety of 2023-24.

The Dons, much like any club in England, have a grueling December fixture list, facing Harrogate, Colchester (EFL Trophy), Doncaster, Chesterfield, Swindon and Gillingham before the year is up.

Could this prove enough time for Sawyers to make an impact in South London? Sawyers will certainly be hoping so, as even if he doesn't desire a long-term stint at Plough Lane, a positive tenure at the club could save the 33-year-old from footballing obscurity, and earn him a return to League One or even the Championship, a league where he presumably may feel he stills belongs.