Winger joins Wycombe Wanderers after seven-and-a-half-years at Griffin Park

Sam Saunders has left Brentford FC after almost eight years to sign for Wycombe Wanderers on a free transfer. The 33-year-old completed the switch to the Sky Bet League Two promotion chasers today, Friday 20 January, after passing a medical. It will be Sam’s second spell with the Buckinghamshire side. He spent part of the 2014/15 season on loan with the League Two outfit, helping them to a fourth-placed finish and the Play-Off Final, where they were beaten on penalties.

Dean Smith, Brentford FC Head Coach, said: “Sam has been frustrated that he has not been getting pitch time in recent weeks. He is coming to the latter stages of his career and he has to think of his future. We are sad to see him go as he has been a great servant to this Football Club, especially during my time here.”

Phil Giles, Brentford FC Co-Director of Football, added: "Sam has been a fantastic professional during his time at Brentford. It was only right that, given his lack of game time this season, we helped Sam to make this move to get game time both this season and next. We wish him well in the next stage of his football career and with his other business interests outside football."

Sam was the Club’s longest-serving player before his departure, having arrived at Brentford from Dagenham and Redbridge before the start of the 2009/10 season, and leaves after making 206 appearances in all competitions during his time at Griffin Park. He contributed 30 goals in seven-and-a-half-years at the Club, as well as numerous assists. He helped The Bees to the 2011 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final and then hit 12 goals and added almost as many assists during the 2011/12 campaign.

Sam played for The Bees during the League One Play-Off Final defeat to Yeovil Town in 2013 and had a key role as Brentford won promotion from the third tier a year later. Three goals and three assists earned him the League One Player of the Month prize for December 2013 and he scored five goals in 22 games in total that year, including a memorable Boxing Day free kick against Swindon Town which saw him fall over before stepping up to curl his shot home.

Sam played four games for The Bees in the Sky Bet Championship in 2014/15 after recovering from a knee injury but missed the start of last season through injury. He has worked his way back to fitness and played 25 games in all competitions, scoring three times. His last Brentford goal – his 26th in 170 EFL games for The Bees – was in the win over Fulham last April.