Kemar Roofe speaks for first time on the decision to sign for League Two side Walsall on a initial short-term deal until January.
The 32-year-old joins on an initial short-term deal until January and is available for selection against Colchester United this weekend.
Roofe was last at Derby County where he made 3 Championship appearances for the 2024/26 season. But now, having dropped down to League Two, hoping for game time while also using his experience to help the Saddlers stay in the race for promotion, currently top of the table, and hoping not to bottle it like last season.
We are thrilled to announce the signing of experienced forward Kemar Roofe! ✍️
— Walsall FC (@WFCOfficial) November 14, 2025
World’s worst kept secret…
It will be great to see Kemar turn out for his hometown club – we hope to see him flourish once again at his new home!
Welcome 🤝 https://t.co/9RDocz3qln
— Ben Sadler (@bensadler12) November 14, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
We are thrilled to announce the signing of experienced forward Kemar Roofe!
The 32-year-old, who is available for selection against Colchester United this weekend, joins the Saddlers on a short-term deal (initially until January) and adds another option to Mat Sadler’s attacking line.
Roofe, born in Walsall, started his professional career at West Bromwich Albion and went out on loan to Icelandic side Vikingur Reykjavik before returning to England and gaining experience in the EFL with spells at Northampton Town, Cheltenham Town and Colchester United before linking up with Oxford United on loan in 2014.
The forward made 16 appearances during his time at the Kassam Stadium and scored six goals, including braces against Wycombe Wanderers and Tranmere Rovers before rejoining them on a permanent basis ahead of the 2015/16 season following his departure from the Hawthorns.
Roofe continued to strive at the U’s, scoring 26 goals in all competitions in 49 appearances which in turn saw him pick up the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Year award and an inclusion in the PFA Team of the Year. His displays in front of goal caught the eye of Leeds United, who acquired his services in 2016 on a four-year-deal.
Roofe spent three seasons at Elland Road and scored 32 goals in 122 appearances before leaving Yorkshire to join Vincent Komany’s Anderlecht in Belgium on a three-year-deal in 2019.
After one season in the Belgian Pro League, the forward made the switch to Ibrox and joined Rangers on a four-year-deal for an undisclosed fee. During that time, Roofe played a key part in their Scottish Premiership title triumph in 2020/21 with 14 goals before departing the club at the end of his contract.
A return to England followed as he joined Derby County on a short-term deal in February this year before leaving the Rams in the summer as a free agent.
(1) new message 📲
Let’s do this @roofe! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Sgj0XxAGxx
— Walsall FC (@WFCOfficial) November 14, 2025
Roofe is delighted to sign for the Saddlers and is itching to get started to life in familiar surroundings.
“I’m really happy to have signed for Walsall,” he said.
“It’s my hometown club so it means that little bit more to me and I feel even more at home now having built relationships at the training ground – the staff and players have been amazing with me and I just can’t wait to get stuck in and help the team and the club achieve its goals.
“My football journey probably started at Walsall l when I was five – I’ve got pictures of me at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium doing the penalty shootout at halftime so to be able to remember that moment and kind of do a full circle is amazing so hopefully I’ll be able to do what I did back then and score some goals for the Saddlers.
“I spoke with the gaffer at length and he’s given me lots of confidence – he’s told me to bring what I usually do with my quality and experience and help the team push forward. I’m excited to see what the future brings and I just can’t wait to get started.”
Head Coach Mat Sadler is pleased to add the experienced forward to his ranks and is looking forward to continuing to work alongside him.
“I’m really pleased that the deal’s over the line,” he said.
“Everyone knows Kemar’s name in English football because he’s a fantastic striker and has been throughout his career. He’s still very, very hungry to achieve things and he’s only 32 so there’s loads left in the tank which is exciting from my point of view.
“It’s important to recognise with Kemar that he’s working through fitness – I wouldn’t expect him to come and play 90 minutes off the bat. We need to look after him and make sure we manage him in the right way but what’s been amazing to see for me is that we’ve got to know each other over the last few weeks, got to know his strengths and all of that and he’s been working really hard – he’s desperate to be here.
“It’s another really good option for us at that top end of the pitch and something that we all know we wanted, that extra body in the building and hopefully Kemar can continue to show what a great career he’s had. He’s a great guy, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with him so far and I look forward to working with him further.”
KEMAR ROOFE’S CAREER:
Youth
2009–2011 – West Bromwich Albion
Senior
2011–2015 – West Bromwich Albion
2011 → Víkingur Reykjavík (loan) – 3 games (1 goal)
2012 → Northampton Town (loan) – 7 games (0 goals)
2013–2014 → Cheltenham Town (loan) – 9 games (1 goal)
2014 → Colchester United (loan) – 3 games (0 goals)
2015 → Oxford United (loan) – 16 games (6 goals)
2015–2016 – Oxford United – 48 games (26 goals)
2016–2019 – Leeds United – 123 games (33 goals)
2019–2020 – Anderlecht – 17 games (7) goals
2020–2024 – Rangers – 102 games (38 goals)
2025 Derby County – 3 games (0 goals)
International
2021 – Jamaica – 5 games (1 goal)
Honours
Oxford United
Football League Trophy runner-up: 2015–16
Rangers
Scottish Premiership: 2020–21
Scottish Cup: 2021–22
Scottish League Cup: 2023–24
UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2021–22
Individual
The Football League Team of the Season: 2015–16
PFA Team of the Year: 2015–16 League Two
EFL Championship Player of the Month: August 2018
UEFA Europa League Goal of the Season: 2020–21
You can also have a watch of his chat with Under The Cosh two months ago. He talks playing under such managers as Marcelo Bielsa, Steven Gerrard, Vincent Kompany and Tony Pulis.
He continues to reflect on his career, coming through at West Brom, facing crowded pathway competing against the likes of Anelka, Lukaku, Berahino and Odemwingie.
Then dropping down the leagues to Oxford for game time under the management of Michael Appleton.
He has many stories from his time at Leeds, from seeing Bielsa sit on countless buckets, to bizarre training sessions & the madness of spy gate unfold, then moved to Anderlecht with Vincent Kompany in charge.
Then Rangers came calling, with Celtic on the verge of winning 10 titles in a row, and Roofe helped be a key part Gerrard’s transformation of the club to win the league title and reach the Europa League Final.
This is how fans reacted as Kemar Roofe speaks for first time on the decision to sign for League Two side Walsall…
@avfcbreaking: Some signing that for Walsall.. He and Uncle Albert will be doing bits in league 2
@Saddlersgirl1: He’s gonna be unreal if he stays fit 🙌🏼 UTS 😍
@Rossco2323: Potentially a great signing, keep him fit and he will be the best striker in the league
@TimWalkerOUFC: Keep him fit and… you know the rest
@Olismith147:
Adomah
Roofe
Matt
Flint
What are we cooking 🤣
@ankrett_7: My dude and starman is home love to see my boys Jamma and Kem link up like Bluecoat days. A very welcome early birthday present @WFCOfficial..
@oliswift_182: Chant for Roofe will be the Roofe is on fire, *or* someone in the lower will somehow manage to shoehorn his name into :dubdu du du kemar roofe’ and we’ll all have to awkwardly go ‘roooo-oooofff’ to make it work… Can’t wait. Other options include kemar, kemar roofe 🎶
@Hun_Occhio: Funny because Rangers fans said he’d never find a club bigger than them, but now look at him.
@Davepricescaff: Good signing that. Hope he does well for you boys! Up the baggies tho 👍🏻
@klebertonfelix: Wow! What a blockbuster signing! 🤪👏🏼
@MolineuxExpress: What a signing that is for Walsall (if they can keep him fit and get him match-sharp). Walsall were crying out for a proper bagsman to go alongside Daniel Kanu and it seems like they’ve found themselves one. #Saddlers #EFL
@JoshuaMansell3: If he can stay fit he will score goals 👏🏻
@Woodhall_Jamie: I’m not saying he’s the answer, but we’ve no forward options, why aren’t we looking at this sort of signing? If he’s gone Walsall he’s hardly going to be on huge wages
@RSeymourWATP:
Evan Weir, Barrett, Kemar Roofe and Kanu;
Ripping Up League Two,
Walsall Through and Through,
Putting On A Show For Youuuuu 🎶🎶🔴⚪
@lomie1991: He could be the perfect signing to get us through where were dropped off in the business end of last season 🤞
@AliHolding: Could be a shrewd bit of business that for the Saddlers.
@weare72cast: So that’s Britt Assombalonga at Barnet, Fabio Borini at Salford and Kemar Roofe at Walsall… 😅 #Saddlers #EFL
@SpecksRSC: Absolutely unbelievable signing for league two. Walsall have found their Nathan Lowe replacement from last year, if he stays fit fucking hell man. All the best Kemar, really hope this works out and you can help a club in to league one. Adomah and Roofe. The dream combo. Top top top geezers
— Fin .. (@fin1306) November 14, 2025
Barrow (a) https://t.co/4NKSwkmNRW pic.twitter.com/QJjphvfrBJ
— Oliver (@Olismith147) November 14, 2025
