Ex-Sheffield Wednesday pair join non-league club in eye-catching double signing
Two former Sheffield Wednesday players have left the free agent market to sign for a non-league club.
One of Sheffield Wednesday’s 2023 promotion heroes has found himself a familiar new club - alongside a player with a less memorable Hillsborough history.
Marvin Johnson proved to be a vital figure in the Darren Moore side that achieved promotion from League One via the play-offs and achieved a tally of 10 goals and 30 assists across four seasons at S6 - the latter only bettered by Barry Bannan during Johnson’s time with the club.
Having joined up with Moore again, he left Port Vale as a free agent in January having been there on a short-term contract, with then-boss Jon Brady telling reporters: “He was on a short-term contract. He came in before I was in the building and I think there were murmurings that he wanted to move on so it's just as simple as that.”
Along with a host of other ex-Wednesday figures, Johnson trained with the PFA Pre-Season programme in recent weeks and like Fernando Forestieri has now found a home in non-league, joining struggling National League side Solihull Moors on a short-term deal to run until mid-January. The now 35-year-old, who played 169 times for the Owls, started his senior career with the club which is based close to his Midlands home.
Johnson is joined there by Elias Kachunga, who spent a solitary season with Wednesday in the Covid-impacted 2020/21 campaign. The DR Congo international played 29 times for the Owls, scoring in an EFL Cup tie at Rochdale, and contributed two assists. He has since played for Bolton Wanderers and Cambridge United.
Moors first team manager Chris Millington said: “It’s great to welcome Marvin back to the Club. He brings valuable experience, real quality on the left and versatility that gives us options across the squad... Elias has played at a high level and brings plenty of experience to our attacking options. He can play across the front line, and we’re looking forward to working with him.”
The pair join fellow former Owl Chey Dunkley at the ARMCO Arena after he made the loan switch from Chesterfield just last week. Dunkley shares a threaded history with Johnson in particular, having previously played together both at Kidderminster Harriers and Oxford United before teaming up at Hillsborough. Rio Shipston is another ex-Owl at the club.