Connor Wickham has been training with League Two side Bromley as he seeks a route back into professional football.
The former Crystal Palace and Sunderland striker has been without a club since leaving Charlton Athletic at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Wickham Eyes EFL Return With Ambitious Bromley
Now 32, Wickham was spotted training with Andy Woodman’s side last week, according to South London Press journalist Richard Cawley. Bromley narrowly missed out on a play-off place in their debut League Two campaign and are looking to strengthen their squad with experience and pedigree ahead of another promotion push.
Wickham would certainly bring that. A product of Ipswich Town’s academy, he was once one of the most highly rated young forwards in the country, earning an £8 million move to Sunderland in 2011. He made 91 appearances for the Black Cats and scored 15 goals before spells with Crystal Palace, Preston, MK Dons, Forest Green Rovers, and Cardiff City.
His most recent action came with Charlton, where he joined in March 2024 on a short-term deal and netted once in four appearances. Before that, he had featured for Wigan’s Under-21 side to maintain fitness, but despite showing flashes of quality in recent years, consistency and injury setbacks have hampered his ability to nail down longer-term contracts.
At Bromley, he would offer more than just goals. With a career tally of 64 senior goals and nearly 300 club appearances, Wickham’s experience at Premier League and Championship level would be an invaluable asset to a club seeking to establish themselves in League Two.
There’s no official word yet on whether Bromley intend to offer him a deal, but his involvement in training suggests the door is open if he impresses. With pre-season underway and clubs finalising their squads, this could be one of Wickham’s final opportunities to extend a professional career that began as a 16-year-old at Portman Road.
Writer’s View
Wickham’s name still carries weight, even if his recent record doesn’t. For a club like Bromley, there’s a calculated gamble to be made: if he stays fit, they’re getting a player who can unsettle League Two defences and act as a focal point in key games. It’s easy to forget he was playing in the Premier League not long ago.
The risk is obvious—his body has let him down repeatedly—but for a squad with play-off ambitions and a need for dressing room leadership, he might just be the kind of wildcard worth backing. Whether he convinces Woodman remains to be seen, but the intent behind the trial feels right for both sides.
