 Sawyers playing forWalsall in 2014. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Romaine Theodore Sawyers[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1991-11-02)2 November 1991 (age 34)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2009 | West Bromwich Albion | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2013 | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | (0) |
| 2011 | →Port Vale (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2012 | →Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2013 | →Walsall (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2013–2016 | Walsall | 132 | (16) |
| 2016–2019 | Brentford | 127 | (6) |
| 2019–2022 | West Bromwich Albion | 61 | (1) |
| 2021–2022 | →Stoke City (loan) | 25 | (2) |
| 2022–2024 | Cardiff City | 39 | (3) |
| 2024–2025 | AFC Wimbledon | 4 | (1) |
| 2025 | Bristol Rovers | 13 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2011–2012 | Saint Kitts and Nevis U23 | 3 | (4) |
| 2012– | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 51 | (8) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:15, 3 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 17:28, 11 June 2025 (UTC) | |||
Romaine Theodore Sawyers (born 2 November 1991) is a professionalfootballer who last played as amidfielder forEFL League Two clubBristol Rovers. Born in England, he represents theSaint Kitts and Nevis national team.
AWest Bromwich Albion academy graduate, he had brief spells onloan atPort Vale,Shrewsbury Town and Walsall. He signed with Walsall in July 2013, following his release from West Brom. He played on the losing side in the2015 final of theFootball League Trophy. He was named in League One'sPFA Team of the Year for his 2015–16 season performances. He joined Brentford in July 2016 and went on to serve as clubcaptain before he returned to West Bromwich Albion for an undisclosed fee in July 2019. He helped the club to winpromotion out of theChampionship at the end of the 2019–20 season and was also named in the PFA Team of the Year. West Brom wererelegated the following year, and he was loaned out toStoke City for the 2021–22 season. He signed withCardiff City in July 2022 and spent two seasons with the club. He joinedAFC Wimbledon on a short-term deal in December 2024 and moved on toBristol Rovers a month later.
Sawyers was raised by Diane, a single mother who raised foster children and did many hours of community work inBirmingham. She remained a big influence on her son, who went on to work closely with the community development teams at his football clubs, as well as with the charityKick It Out.[4] He grew up supportingArsenal and was a big fan ofThierry Henry.[5]
Sawyers first made theWest Bromwich Albionsubstitute bench for the final game of the2008–09 season. He then won his first professionalcontract with the club.[6] However, he spent most of the2009–10 season nursing a knee injury. On 21 January 2011, he joinedJim Gannon'sPort Vale on a one-monthloan, along withKayleden Brown.[7][8] He made his debut for theLeague Two club two days later, in a 1–0 defeat toCheltenham Town atVale Park, replacingAdam Yates.[9] However, this was to be his only game for the club, as the pair returned toThe Hawthorns after the loan spell ended with Sawyers having made no further first-team appearances.[10]
On 27 January 2012, he joinedGraham Turner's League TwoShrewsbury Town on a one-month loan,[11] and the following day he was named as an unused substitute for the 2–0 win atHereford United.[12] He made his first league start againstTorquay United atPlainmoor on 11 February.[13] On 25 February, it was announced his loan had been extended until the end of the2011–12 season.[14] In total he made two starts and five substitute appearances for Shrewsbury.[15]
Sawyers joinedLeague One clubWalsall on loan in March 2013;managerDean Smith said that "He's a talented lad who can play-off the front-man... I know that Albion rate him highly, so it's good to have him on board."[16] He made four substitute appearances for the club. West Brom released him in June 2013.[17] Following his release from West Brom, Sawyers signed a permanent one-year deal at Walsall in July 2013; Dean Smith stated that he saw potential and an excellent attitude in the player despite his limited playing time on loan.[18] On 17 August 2013, he marked his first senior start for Walsall with his first goal from 25 yards (23 m) in a 1–1 draw withNotts County at theBescot Stadium.[19] He finished the2013–14 season with seven goals in 49 appearances. He signed a new two-year deal with the club.[20]
On 13 September 2014, he was described as a "shining light throughout" in a 3–1 home win overPreston North End, earning a place on the Football League team of the week.[21] He played inthe 2015 final of theFootball League Trophy, a 2–0 defeat toBristol City, which was Walsall's first appearance atWembley Stadium.[22] In total he scored five goals in 51 appearances in the2014–15 season, and was praised by manager Smith despite being criticised by some supporters.[23] He won a place on the Football League team of the week after scoring a brace – including a "25-yard rocket into the top corner of the net" – in a 4–0 triumph atBlackpool on 29 August 2015.[24] He was named in League One'sPFA Team of the Year for his performances in the2015–16 season, alongside teammateRico Henry.[25] He was also nominated for thePFA League One 'Player of the Year', and finished as runner-up toGillingham'sBradley Dack.[26] He rejected the club's offer a new contract and departed as afree agent at the end of the season.[27]
On 1 July 2016, Sawyers signed withChampionship clubBrentford in a move that reunited him with former Walsall bossDean Smith.[28] He made his debut for the "Bees" in a 2–1 away defeat toHuddersfield Town on the opening day of the2016–17 season.[29] He scored his first goal for Brentford in a 2–0 win overWest London derby rivalsQueens Park Rangers on 28 October.[30] He ended the 2016–17 campaign with three goals in 45 matches, helping Brentford to a tenth-place finish as the key link between defence and attack.[31] He scored five goals and contributed fiveassists in 44 appearances across the2017–18 season as Brentford finished in ninth position, and was described as "one of the standout players at Griffin Park this season with his touch andpassing range impressing many".[32] He was voted Players' Player of the Year by the Brentford squad and was also named as Community Player of the Year.[33]
He was reported to be atransfer target of West Bromwich Albion managerDarren Moore in June 2018.[34] Soon after taking charge at Brentford, new managerThomas Frank named Sawyers as the new clubcaptain in November 2018.[35] Frank moved Sawyers further down thepitch as part of two central midfielders withKamohelo Mokotjo rather than as one of three.[36] He made 46 appearances during the2018–19 season and was linked with a move toAston Villa in the summer.[37]
On 27 July 2019, Sawyers returned to West Bromwich Albion, signing a three-year contract after being bought for an undisclosed fee (reported to be£2.9 million); Sawyers stated that "this is the team that I have always wanted to play for".[38][39] ManagerSlaven Bilić said that "we targeted him as a player who will raise the quality in our midfield".[40] He chose to wear the #19 shirt in homage to former midfielderJason Koumas.[41] On 22 February 2020, he wassent off after putting his hand to thethroat of former Walsall teammateJamie Paterson during a 3–0 win atBristol City.[42] During break in play due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in England,FourFourTwo magazine listed Sawyers as the ninth best player in the EFL.[43] He ended the2019–20 season with one goal in 43 appearances as the "Baggies" secured the Championship's second automaticpromotion place.[44] He was also named in the Championship's PFA Team of the Year.[45]
On 29 December 2020, he scored whatThe Guardian's Paul Doyle described as a "slapstickown goal" in a 5–0 defeat toLeeds United atThe Hawthorns.[46] Sawyers took toTwitter to say that "I take full responsibility for setting the tone for what went on to be a difficult night for us all to stomach!"[47] Sawyers barely featured in the second half of the2020–21 season as the club sufferedrelegation under the stewardship ofSam Allardyce.[48][49]
On 20 August 2021, Sawyers joined Championship rivalsStoke City on loan for the2021–22 season.[50] ManagerMichael O'Neill stated that "we didn't anticipate that Romaine would become available" but acted quickly to sign Sawyers after he had fallen behindJake Livermore andAlex Mowatt in the pecking order at West Brom.[51] Sawyers made 29 appearances for Stoke, scoring three goals during his loan spell which was disrupted due to a leg injury which caused him to miss two months.[52][53]
On 6 July 2022, Sawyers joinedCardiff City on a two-year deal following his release from West Brom, with "Bluebirds" managerSteve Morison noting that "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".[54][55] He scored three goals from 39 games in the2022–23 campaign, including the goal that gave new bossSabri Lamouchi his first win at theCardiff City Stadium againstReading on 17 February.[56][57] However, he was told to look for a new club by new managerErol Bulut in August 2023.[58] He remained at the club and featured in two league and four cup games in the first half of the2023–24 season before leaving upon the expiry of his contract.[59][60]
On 5 December 2024, Sawyers joined League Two clubAFC Wimbledon on a one-month contract.[61] He said that he aimed to "utilise my experience to help the boys get some results over the busy Christmas period", with managerJohnnie Jackson reiterating that it was a short-term solution to the club's injury crisis.[62] He made his first start for Wimbledon on 30 December, contributing to a 1–0 win overGillingham that took the Dons into the automatic promotion places.[63] He scored his first goal for the Dons in his fifth and final appearance, a 2–1 win atNewport County on 2 January.[64] He departedPlough Lane four days later following the expiry of his contract.[65]
On 8 January 2025, Sawyers joined League One sideBristol Rovers on a short-term contract until the end of the2024–25 season after having been made to feel "very wanted" by director of footballGeorge Friend and head coachIñigo Calderón.[66] Following relegation, he was released at the end of his short-term contract.[67]
Sawyers represented Saint Kitts and Nevis national under-23 football team in the second round of theCaribbean Football Union'squalifying phase for the2012 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship. In the three games the team played, he scored four goals.[68] He was called up to the full team for thequalification for the2012 Caribbean Cup. He scored a goal and claimed an assist on his debut in a 2–0 win overAnguilla at theWarner Park Sporting Complex inBasseterre.[69]
Sawyers has a languid style of play, which can make him appear lazy at times despite statistics indicating a relatively highwork rate.[36] He can play as anattacking midfielder,playmaker or as acentral midfielder.[70] He played most his career as a'number 10' under his former managerDean Smith who managed him atWalsall andBrentford, before being converted into acentral midfielder under ManagerThomas Frank atBrentford who also made himcaptain due to his leadership qualities. Sawyers is known for his ability to dictate games frommidfield, range of passing, and ability to carry out successful difficult passes and help his teammates start attacks.[71][72]
In January 2021, a 49-year-old man fromKingswinford was arrested after a racist message was sent to Sawyers on social media during West Brom's loss toManchester City.[73] In September 2021, the man was jailed for eight weeks.[74][75]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2008–09[76] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Port Vale (loan) | 2010–11[77] | League Two | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2011–12[15] | League Two | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Walsall (loan) | 2012–13[78] | League One | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Walsall | 2013–14[79] | League One | 44 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 49 | 7 |
| 2014–15[80] | League One | 42 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[a] | 1 | 51 | 5 | |
| 2015–16[81] | League One | 46 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3[b] | 0 | 57 | 7 | |
| Total | 136 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 161 | 19 | ||
| Brentford | 2016–17[82] | Championship | 43 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 45 | 3 | |
| 2017–18[83] | Championship | 42 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 44 | 5 | ||
| 2018–19[84] | Championship | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 46 | 0 | ||
| Total | 127 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 135 | 8 | |||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2019–20[85] | Championship | 42 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 43 | 1 | |
| 2020–21[48] | Premier League | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[86] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 61 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 64 | 1 | |||
| Stoke City (loan) | 2021–22[86] | Championship | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 29 | 3 | |
| Cardiff City | 2022–23[56] | Championship | 37 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 39 | 3 | |
| 2023–24[59] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| Total | 39 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 45 | 3 | |||
| AFC Wimbledon | 2024–25[64] | League Two | 4 | 1 | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||
| Bristol Rovers | 2024–25[64] | League One | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 417 | 30 | 20 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 463 | 36 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2012 | 3 | 1 |
| 2014 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 51 | 8 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 October 2012 | Warner Park,Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis |  Anguilla | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2012 Caribbean Cup qualification |
| 2 | 5 September 2014 | Warner Park, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis |  Dominica | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2014 Caribbean Cup qualification |
| 3 | 11 June 2015 | Warner Park, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis |  El Salvador | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 26 March 2016 | Trinidad Stadium,Oranjestad, Aruba |  Aruba | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification |
| 5 | 4 June 2021 | Warner Park, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis |  Guyana | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 23 March 2023 | Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre,The Valley, Anguilla |  Saint Martin | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League C |
| 7 | 14 November 2024 | Warner Park, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis |  Cuba | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification play-in |
| 8 | 10 June 2025 | Warner Park, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis |  Grenada | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Walsall
West Bromwich Albion
Individual
