BURTON Albion Football Club is delighted to confirm the return of striker Sam Winnall to the Pirelli Stadium!
The experienced striker, who has been training with the Brewers for the last six weeks and featured in friendlies against Belper Town and Stapenhill, has signed a contract until the end of the season.`
Winnall returns to the club he made his EFL debut for during a loan spell from Wolverhampton Wanderers in early 2011, a move that yielded seven goals in 19 games while the Brewers were in League Two under the management of Paul Peschisolido.
Following further loan spells at Hereford, Inverness and Shrewsbury, Winnall made a permanent move to Scunthorpe United, spending a season at Glanford Park and netting 23 times before being snapped up by Barnsley.
Winnall would make a fantastic impact at Oakwell - playing a key role by scoring 24 times in their 2015/16 play-off promotion season and he would continue his fine scoring record in the Championship, earning a move to Sheffield Wednesday in January 2017.
Following a loan spell at Derby County, Winnall dropped back to League One level in 2020 to sign for Oxford United, for whom he scored seven times before leaving the Us last summer.
Now back with the Brewers, Winnall, who confirmed that he has turned down offers from elsewhere to join the Brewers, is eager to get started again at the Pirelli Stadium.
"I'm buzzing to get it over the line - as you're probably aware I've been training for quite a while!" said the 31-year-old. "To get it all sealed is a real pleasure.
"I feel good to be honest - it's part of football that when you leave a club and become a free agent, it's a tough time.
"I was really thankful to the club for the opportunity to come in, train and build that fitness back up. I just want to start playing now!
"I had a couple of other options on the table, but the fact that the club showed a real interest, and Dino showed me how much he really wanted me to be here, made it an easy decision."
Dino Maamria is pleased to have got Winnall's signing over the line.
"Sam has obviously been training with us for the past few weeks, he has proven his fitness levels," said Maamria.
"He's experienced and proven at this level - we've got a young squad and he'll be a fantastic addition to help the likes of Victor Adeboyejo and hopefully give us a different dimension, because we do need goals and we do need experience.
"He's got really good pedigree, but he's hungry. He wants to prove he can still play at this level - and I like his hunger and desire, and his attitude to helping the team.
"The Chairman (Ben Robinson) has been fantastic in terms of backing us to bring extra bodies in, and the first one is Sam."
Winnall will wear squad number 9 during his time at the Pirelli Stadium. Welcome back, Sam!