Walsall have announced the signing of Albert Adomah via club media, with the winger penning a one-year deal at the Bescot Stadium.
One of the most well-recognised names in EFL history, Adomah has achieved legend status during his career. Now 36, he is very much in his latter stages, but last season showed that he still has something left to give.
The Ghanaian would appear 16 times for Queens Park Rangers in England’s second tier, the majority of those being off of the bench, yet he’d still play a part in helping them to survival. Those number of appearances that he made last term would also help him to break a record which could now be incredibly hard to beat, that being the most appearances in the Championship.
Having turned out for QPR, Cardiff City, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Bristol City in the second tier, Adomah has made an astonishing 526 appearances in the Championship, two more than Lee Camp. The highest that any current player has is Middlesbrough’s Jonathan Howson, who is 12th in the rankings with 444.
That record would’ve no doubt been on Adomah’s mind and it now makes perfect sense to take a step down in class. Although it’s unlikely that he’ll be the key man at Walsall, his quality and more importantly experience, will certainly serve them well.
After narrowly missing out on the play-offs last term, the Saddlers will be hoping that the addition of the former Ghana international can propel them into the top seven.
Speaking to club media on the arrival of Adomah, manager Mat Sadler said:
“I’m delighted Albert has decided to commit this part of his career with us.”
“There were some options that I had in that right wing-back spot that I was considering but then Albert came in and completely changed all of that with the way he’s gone about things, his experience, the person that he is, the way he conducts himself around the group and most importantly what he does on the grass.
“His professionalism and dedication to keep playing and put himself as the best athlete he can be is unquestionable and that delivery and quality in the final third will be a real force for us this season.
“How he’ll help with some of the younger ones as well, his delivery and the way he puts himself about, I’m really looking forward to see.”
Writer’s View
It was great to see Adomah break the Championship appearance record for QPR last term and some would’ve thought that Camp’s total may never be broken. He’s had an astonishing career having also twice won promotion to the top flight and its not finished just yet.
Helping the Saddlers to promotion to League One would be the perfect way to top off a stellar career and Adomah could well become an integral part of the changing room. Although it is unknown what type of role he’ll play on the pitch, his experience should serve the club incredibly well and its a transfer to be excited about.