Former Bristol City, Cardiff and Peterborough midfielder signs deal with League Two club

Former Bristol City midfielder Lee Tomlin has put pen-to-paper on a deal with Walsall until the end of the season, ending a five-month exile from football.

The 33-year-old had been without a club after his release from Severnside rivals Cardiff City in October and underwent his own personal fitness regime to get himself ready for a return to football.

Tomlin had been training with non-league Wrexham in recent weeks but they didn’t take up that option and as such has agreed a move that will at least keep him in the Football League.

Walsall’s first-team manager Michael Flynn confirmed that the Saddlers would take Tomlin until the end of the season and is hopeful that he could make his debut in tomorrow’s match against Hartlepool United tomorrow.

“I’m happy to be here,” he said to Walsall’s official club website.

“I had a phone call from the Head Coach when he got the job asking if I’d like to come in.

“I remember the first day I first came in I enjoyed training, I enjoyed being around the lads and that’s all I want to do – enjoy football again.

“I’ve had a few months out now, got myself fit again so hopefully I can kick on and do my best for Walsall.”

His new manager Mike Flynn added: ““Lee, first of all didn’t want to move away having had a new baby but he ticked a lot of boxes and once somebody with his quality becomes available and you manage to get him, you’re over the moon.

“Lee can unlock any defence in this league, he scores goals and he creates them too and so he will no doubt improve us from an attacking front.

“He’s been training with us recently and whilst we continue to work on his match fitness, he is eager, raring to go and ready top help the team.”

Tomlin enjoyed a season-and-a-half at the Robins, first joining on loan from Bournemouth in January 2016, where he excelled, scoring six goals and getting two assists which earned him respect with the supporters.

He continued that into the season after, scoring six goals and creating six goals in 38 appearances, helping them to retain their Championship status with 18th and 17th placed finishes.

Cardiff City though came in for Tomlin and with them, he won promotion to the Premier League in 2017/18, whilst he was also their Player of the Season in the 2019/20 campaign when they reached the play-offs.

In 570 appearances, he has 121 goals to his game but has rarely played after undergoing groin surgery. He last played a competitive match in October 2020, featuring for Cardiff in a loss to QPR in which he played 75 minutes.

Tomlin was included on the bench in their final game of last season but was not brought on by their manager at the time, Mick McCarthy and was allowed to leave before the Irishman’s sacking.

His new club Walsall are currently 17th in the division and eight points above the relegation zone. They were recently taken over by former Newport County manager Mike Flynn, who left Walsall’s league rivals in October.