Former Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra has come out of retirement to signs for Cymru South side Trethomas Bluebirds in a surprise move.

Chopra, who played for Cardiff over 150 times over the course of four spells at the club, will once again become a ‘bluebird’, having preiously retired from football in 2022.

“I was willing to be an ambassador for the club, after what the fans in the Cardiff area have done me for during my difficult times I thought it would be good to give back to local communities and local football clubs,” said Chopra.

“The chairman then said ‘why don’t you sign for us?’ He thought it would be brilliant for the football club if I did.

“I live in Amsterdam now, but once the fixtures come out you can pick and choose which games you want me to play in and it’s not a problem sitting on the bench.

“I believe you’ve got to earn the right to play. Even though I’ve played at the highest level, I’m no different to the players they’ve got now.”

The Newcastle academy graduate first signed for Cardiff in 2006, scoring 22 goals in his single Championship season in the Welsh capital, seeing him sold to Premier League side Sunderland for a deal worth up to £5 million.

The Sunderland move proved difficult, with Chopra returning to Cardiff for two loan spells, before making the move back permanently in 2009.

He had further spells at Ipswich Town, Blackpool, Alloa Athletic, and Kerala Blasters in India – the land of his father.

Chopra becomes the latest high-profile player to join the domestic setup after former Swansea striker Lee Trundle signed for Cwmbran Town in the third tier earlier this month.

“I think it’s great for myself to put my name towards one of the local clubs in Cardiff, I just think it’s brilliant,” added Chopra.

“It is also great for some older Cardiff fans to have a chance to bring their kids to come and watch me play, because they never got to see the Michael Chopra who was playing for Cardiff because they weren’t around.”

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