Sheffield Wednesday struck the jackpot with a £0 agreement for former Sunderland and Coventry City star.

Following his release from Sunderland in 2014, Sheffield Wednesday signed Keiren Westwood on a free transfer for an initial two-year contract, and he went on to make just shy of 200 appearances for the Owls in all competitions.

Westwood was released by Manchester City after coming through the youth levels and never making a senior appearance for the club, staying a backup option behind David James and Nicky Weaver as a teenager.

Following unsuccessful tryouts at Accrington Stanley and Bradford City, Westwood joined Carlisle United on a free transfer in 2004, where he would initially serve as a backup during his first season in Cumbria.

Westwood eventually got his chance to challenge for the number one shirt in his second season, and he went on to make 35 League Two appearances for the team that season.

He would go on to keep his starting berth at Brunton Park for the next two seasons, playing every game, and at the end of the 2007/08 season, he was named to the PFA Team of the Year, as well as winning all of the club’s Player of the Season honors.

That summer, he moved to Coventry City, where he was selected to the Championship PFA Team of the Year in his debut season. He missed only seven league games in three years with the Sky Blues before joining Premier League side Sunderland on free transfer in 2011.

The 21-time capped former Irish international would compete with former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for the number one spot at the Stadium of Light, but would primarily serve as a backup during his three years in the North East, eventually joining Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer after his release in 2014.

Keiren Westwood signed for Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer after being released from Sunderland.

After spending the previous three years as a backup option at Sunderland, Westwood was instantly forced into Sheffield Wednesday’s starting lineup, signing a two-year contract and replacing Chris Kirkland.

Kirkland had contended for the number one spot with Emiliano Martinez the previous season, but had now lost it to the incoming Westwood.

Under head coach Stuart Gray, Wednesday achieved their highest league position in six years, finishing 13th and equaling their season clean sheet record, with Westwood playing a key role in that achievement.

In Wednesday’s goalless draw against Norwich City at Hillsborough in October, manager Gray praised Westwood, describing it as ‘the Keiren Westwood show’.

Gray would go on to say: “Keiren Westwood’s man-of-the-match performance demonstrated his status as a top-tier goalkeeper.

“He’s a fantastic individual and he takes a lot of pride in his work and his performance.”

That same season, he was named to the Championship PFA Team of the Year for the second time and first for the Owls, and his contract was extended until the summer of 2018.

He would remain the club’s unquestioned number one for the next two seasons, and in the 2016/17 season, he would earn Player of the Year for the second time, despite the Owls narrowly missing out on the play-offs.

Like Gray, incoming manager Carlos Carvalhal praised Westwood’s ability to produce game-winning saves when needed, saying, “A good goalkeeper is one who makes saves when he has to, when the team needs him to.” Kieren is an excellent goalkeeper who always comes through for the squad. It is crucial to have a good goalkeeper, and he is one.”

Ahead of the 2017/18 season, Westwood began to battle with injury, missing much of the season due to a groin ailment and being replaced by Joe Wildsmith.

Despite his age, the tough Westwood would not give up his number one slot easily, continuing to contend with Cameron Dawson and Wildsmith for his place between the sticks.

However, his playing opportunities dwindled, and he eventually left Hillsborough after seven years with the club, having made 199 appearances in all competitions. Without injuries and being frozen out by Garry Monk, he would probably certainly have reached at least 250.

Keiren Westwood would become a modern-day legend at Sheffield Wednesday because of his achievements in goal.

Westwood would join Queens Park Rangers in March 2022 as the West London club sought an emergency replacement following injuries to Seny Dieng, Joe Walsh, Jordan Archer, and David Marshall, where he appeared six games while keeping one clean sheet.

He would join Crewe Alexandra on a short-term contract in February 2024, following the injury of first-choice keeper Tom Booth.

Westwood is now retired and serves as the head goalie coach for Welsh club TNS. He also operates the Keiren Westwood goalie Academy for ambitious young goalkeepers.

The Irishman worked his way up from League Two backup to Premier League goalkeeper, but he will be best known for his seven-year stint with Sheffield Wednesday, where his efforts won him the title of modern-day legend in South Yorkshire.

Westwood, who signed for free, dedicated seven years of his career to Wednesday, three of them as an undisputed starter between the sticks, and acquired a reputation as one of the best in the second tier. He cost the Owls nothing, but in exchange, he provided years of match-winning saves and memories to last a lifetime.

In terms of free transfers, Wednesday struck gold with this move, as Westwood was priceless at his peak.