Confirmed: Cardiff sign midfielder that “can be the difference in a game” | OneFootball

Cardiff City have confirmed the signing of free agent midfielder Romaine Sawyers on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old was released by West Bromwich Albion earlier this summer after three years with the Championship club.

He fell out of favour in the latter part of his time at The Hawthorns, spending last season on loan at Stoke City, but was a regular fixture during their 2019/20 promotion-winning campaign.

Cardiff announced today that Sawyers had become the latest player to join Steve Morison’s squad on a free transfer and had signed a two-year deal in the Welsh capital, subject to clearance.

The Bluebirds have focussed much of their attention this summer on targets available on a free transfer, with the midfielder the ninth player to join without the club paying a transfer fee upfront.

Via the club website, Sawyers revealed that Morison sold the project to him ahead of putting pen to paper.

He said: “I spoke to the gaffer, he explained the product that he’s got, and I feel like I want to be a part of it.

“The staff have been very welcoming, the players have been very welcoming, and it’s good to be back within a team.

“We’ve got a lot of young, energetic players. I’m one of the more senior ones, who is going to be here to try and add a bit of experience and know-how of the league.

“I like to get on the ball, and I want to get the team playing. I’ll try and chip in with a few goals and assists, and I like to bring others into play and put them in dangerous positions.”

The Cardiff boss hailed Sawyers’ game-changing ability and the strength in depth it would give him for the 2022/23 campaign.

He said: “I’m sure everyone knows about Romaine and his qualities; he can be the difference in a game. He’s a top quality Championship midfielder, which adds to the top quality players we already have.

“He’s got undoubted quality to see a pass and make things happen. I’m very excited to have him on board, and I think the supporters should be as well.

“Obviously we can make five substitutions this season, and that will come into our thinking, so it’s worth having those extra bodies in every position we can.

“It creates great competition, and I’m really looking forward to seeing them altogether.”

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The Verdict

It’s been a busy window for the Bluebirds, who have made Sawyers their 10th signing of the summer and the ninth that has arrived on a free transfer.

He’s a technical midfielder with an eye for a pass and someone that can control games from the centre of the park.

There’s been a lot of squad turnover in the Welsh capital this summer, particularly in midfield, and the manager now has to get them on the same page before the start of the season.

You can’t argue with the quality of some of the players they’ve signed but only time will tell whether that will mean more success than last term.