Former West Brom, Stoke City midfielder still without a club after summer Championship release
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West Brom and Stoke City are both among the clubs to have had EFL mainstay Romaine Sawyers on the books over the years.
West Brom is where it all started for Romaine Sawyers as a young hopeful looking to make it in football.
He came through their academy ranks and gained an experience of senior football out on loans with the likes of Port Vale, Shrewsbury Town and Walsall. In a bid to really kick on away from The Hawthorns though, Sawyers left to join his latter loan club on a permanent basis.
It was with Walsall where the midfielder would really make a name for himself. Regularly operating in a more advanced role, Sawyers starred for the Saddlers, managing 19 goals and 25 assists in 161 games for the club in a little over three years, eventually moving to Brentford in 2016.
Another three-year stay yielded eight goals and 20 assists in 135 outings, cementing himself as a Championship standout. It was then Sawyers would earn a move back to West Brom, helping them win promotion to the Premier League in his maiden campaign and going on to play 19 times in the top-flight.
That season ended in relegation though, and for the 2021/22 season, Sawyers was loaned out to Stoke City. He chipped in with three goals and four assists in 29 games to show what he could still offer, but after that loan, a permanent move from the Baggies beckoned.
Life after West Brom and Stoke City
It was Cardiff City who snapped up the St. Kitts and Nevis international in the summer of 2022. Sawyers joined on a free transfer and over two years, he played 45 times for the Bluebirds.
Three goals and one assist later though, and Sawyers was let go by the South Welsh side.
That brings us to the current day, and the midfielder is still without a club after being let go in the summer.
The former West Brom and Stoke City man was among those involved in the PFA’s pre-season training camp, with many of those going on to land new clubs since. However, Sawyers has remained out of the game.
Where next?
Clubs are a little more hesitant when it comes to free agent signings at this time of the year. Those still without teams have now been out of the game for a while, so it would take a decent amount of time getting them back to full match fitness.
That may be the case for Sawyers. The talent of the West Brom academy graduate has been undoubted over the years, but his time on the sidelines may have some sceptical over what he could offer.
Nevertheless, if a club encounters a midfield shortage, it’s feasible to see Sawyers return at any level of the EFL. He could still provide solid depth and experience for a Championship club.
In League One or League Two, Sawyers has the technical ability to be a real star though, even if it take a little longer to get him up to speed than liked.
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