A former Sheffield Wednesday star has signed a shock, short-term deal with a League Two club.
After two years out of the game, seemingly retired after a prolonged and fruitful career in which he made 199 total appearances for Sheffield Wednesday, goalkeeper Kieren Westwood has signed for a Football League team.
Now 39 years old, Westwood spent seven years at Hillsborough between 2014 and 2021, leaving as a free agent and last playing for QPR in a brief spell in the 2021/2022 season.
Westwood left the R’s at the end of that season and hasn’t been back in the game since.
But that’s until today, with Westwood having signed for League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra on a short-term deal.
Crewe Alexandra signed Kieren Westwood
Crewe are pushing for promotion from League Two this season, and now they’ve hired one of the most experienced Football League goalkeepers to help with that push.
The Railwaymen announced the news earlier today, posting on X:
During a 19-year professional career which started at Manchester City, Westwood went on make 512 career appearances across spells with the likes of Carlisle United, Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday and more.
For the Owls, the 21-cap former Republic of Ireland international made 199 total apps, with 196 goals conceded and a staggering 73 clean sheets.
Sheffield Wednesday legend Westwood back in business
Westwood is certainly a modern day legend.
He was a constant for the team through some of the more positive years; Westwood was a key member of the team that reached the Championship play-offs two years in a row between 2015 and 2017.
And his record speaks for itself; Westwood was a very rounded and commanding goalkeeper who pulled off some huge saves during his seven years at Sheffield Wednesday.
He fell out of favour in his last few years and was often found battling for the no.1 spot with different names, though he eventually left as a huge fan favourite, and fans will be glad to see him back in action after it looked like he’d retired.
Crewe will now be hoping that Westwood can help get them over the line in League Two this season.
Their no.1 choice goalkeeper Tom Booth is now injured and so Westwood looks like he’ll come straight into the XI, with 20-year-old Harvey Davies playing back-up once more.
The club currently sits in 5th place of the League Two table and are just two points behind Barrow in 3rd, which is the first automatic promotion spot in the fourth division.
Westwood could be in line to make his debut vs Crawley this weekend.