JACK RODWELL has completed a surprise move to Premier League overachievers Sheffield United on a short-term deal.
The defensive midfielder becomes the club’s first signing of the January transfer window following a successful trial at the club.
Jack Rodwell has agreed a six-month deal with Sheffield UnitedCredit: Getty – Contributor
Rodwell, 28, has been without a club after leaving Blackburn Rovers at the end of last season.
The former Everton wonderkid had trials at Roma and Parma before spending three weeks training with Chris Wilder’s side who occupy eighth spot in the table.
He proved his fitness and now the boss wants to help kick-start his career after he penned a six-month deal.
Wilder said: “Hopefully we can kickstart his career. He’s certainly got the desire from a physical point of view.
“No issues from an attitude point of view.”
Rodwell was criticised following Netflix’s documentary Sunderland ‘Til I Die after being adjudged of refusing to leave the crisis club while pocketing huge £43,000-a-week wages.
But Wilder is taking it with a pinch of salt and adds that Rodwell ticks all the boxes.
He said: “I think there might be a club up in the north-east – their supporters will chuckle over stuff at Jack Rodwell. There’s two parts to that story by the way.
“I’m not a lover of fly-on-the-wall documentaries – I think they’re always looking for a villain. But from my point of view that’s history, and all the boxes that I needed to tick, and Jack needed to tick. He has done.”
Rodwell will add competition in midfield with the ability to play in central defence.
He could be handed his debut in the club’s FA Cup third round fixture against non-league Fylde on Sunday afternoon.
Rodwell burst onto the scene as a teenager for Everton before moving to Man City for £12million in 2012.
But he made just 16 league appearances over two seasons before moving to Sunderland and then Blackburn.
Sheffield United’s training is rudely interrupted by a urinating dog
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
