£2.9m West Brom transfer signing finally joins new club after Cardiff City exit

Former West Brom midfielder Romaine Sawyers is back in club football albeit on a short-term basis.

The 33-year-old was made a free agent in the summer after his contract expired at the Baggies' EFL Championship rivals Cardiff City. He hadn't played much football over the last season and was didn't feature in the plans of the manager, limiting him to just six appearances.

Despite being without a club Sawyers was able to keep himself fit by playing international football. In October and November he played for the St. Kitts & Nevis national team, and helped inspire wins over the British Virgin Islands and Cuba.

Five months on from his departure from South Wales and Sawyers finally has a new team. He's dropped down two levels and joined League Two side AFC Wimbledon on a one month contract.

He has signed a contract until January 4, and so he will be available for seven games. Should he hit the ground running, he could do enough to impress Johnnie Jackson in to extending his stay at Plough Lane.

“It’s a good fit for me – a young manager and squad that is trying to push in the right direction,” said Romaine to the official club website.

“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 was born in Birmingham and came through the academy at West Brom. He was with the club from 2004 to 2013, but left having made no senior appearances. Walsall signed him and he did well there, so Dean Smith signed him at Brentford too.

West Brom opted to re-sign Sawyers in 2019, signing him from the Bees for £2.9m. In total he made 64 appearances, getting a goal and an assist, and played in both the Championship and the Premier League. He was shipped out on loan to Stoke City before being allowed to leave on a free transfer in 2022.