Cymru South club sign former £5m Cardiff City, Newcastle United, and Sunderland star

Cymru South club Trethomas Bluebirds have completed a major signing with the addition of former Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra, who is making a return to football after four years away from the game.

The 42-year-old last featured for West Allotment Celtic back in 2022 before stepping away from competitive football, but now returns with a wealth of experience from both the Premier League and the English Football League.

Chopra brings a significant pedigree to the Cymru South side, who finished 13th in the Welsh second tier last season. His arrival is being viewed as a major statement of intent as the club looks to strengthen its squad and climb the table.

The striker remains fondly remembered across South Wales for his time at Cardiff City, where he became a popular figure among supporters during his spell at the club.

He also follows in the footsteps of South Wales football icon Lee Trundle, who extended his playing career within the Welsh domestic system in his later years, recently signing terms with Cwmbran Town.

Four spells at Cardiff City

Michael Chopra enjoyed the most prolific spell of his career at Cardiff City, where he made 159 appearances across four separate spells for the club.

Initially signed in 2006 from Newcastle United, Chopra made an immediate impact in South Wales, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists in 42 matches during an outstanding debut campaign.

His form earned him a £5 million move to Sunderland, Newcastle’s North East rivals, where he went on to make 42 appearances and score eight goals for the Black Cats.

Chopra later returned to Cardiff on loan twice, adding a further nine goals in 27 games before making a permanent return in 2009. Under Dave Jones, he went on to represent the Bluebirds for another two seasons, scoring 32 goals in 188 appearances. His overall record for the club finished at 63 goals and 28 assists.

A key highlight of his career includes scoring a last-gasp winner against Swansea City in the South Wales Derby back in April 2010. 

Elsewhere in his career, Chopra went on to feature for Ipswich Town, where he enjoyed a strong first season at Portman Road, reaching double figures with 14 goals in 45 appearances. However, his form dipped in his second year, scoring just four times, before a move to Blackpool, where he was unable to find the net.

Later in his playing journey, he signed for Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League, before spells in the Scottish Championship with Alloa Athletic, and a further return to India to continue his career.

Michael Chopra’s new division and club

For anyone with a curiosity for what lies in store for Chopra, here’s a summary of both the club and the league he’ll be playing in. The Cymru South is the second tier of Welsh football and feeds into the Cymru Premier.

Its champions are promoted to the Cymru Premier, provided they meet the necessary licensing requirements. In a change to the format this season, the team finishing second will face the runners-up from the Cymru North. The winner of that tie will then meet the club that finishes 14th in the Cymru Premier for a place in the top flight.

Trethomas will enter its third season at this level, having finished second in its debut campaign and 13th last season. Following that strong second-place finish, they lost much of their squad, with several players, along with their manager, moving to Pontypridd United.

This triggered a full squad rebuild, and despite early-season concerns, they finished 19 points clear of the relegation zone. However, they have since lost one key player, Jack Shaw, who has moved up to the Cymru Premier to join Barry Town United.

Their home games are played at the Centre of Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach near Caerphilly, and this can be reached at CF82 7EP. Their league fixtures will be announced at 10 am on Friday, 3 July, ahead of the opening weekend of the season, also on 31 July-1 August 2026.