Gylfi Sigurdsson returns to football & joins Valur in Iceland's top division

Gylfi Sigurdsson has returned to football after having his contract terminated by his former side.

The Iceland international, 34, left Everton at the end of the 2021-22 season when his contract expired and had not played until he signed for Danish side Lyngby in August last year.

Sigurdsson was released by Everton over a year after his last competitive game and five since he became their record signing for £45million.

He had scored 67 Premier League goals split across 318 games for Swansea, Tottenham and Everton, before it all ended so suddenly.

Now, however, he is back in the game and in his homeland, joining Valur in the Besta deild karla - the men's premier division in the country.

The club boasted of his arrival, saying they were 'extremely proud' to present the midfielder as a new player for the club.

They reported that he signed a two-year deal during a training trip to Spain.

'I am extremely happy with my decision to join Val, which in my opinion is an exemplary team,' Sigurdsson said after the move. 'I believe that my style of play is well suited to the football that the team wants to play after training with them recently. I have felt good since I attended my first practice and it will be good to be here.

'When I had decided to come home, I felt it was important to make the right choice. The environment offered by Val is very good and on par with the best in the Nordic countries. So I just have a good feeling about the club and you can feel that there is a lot of ambition here.

'I've never been an Icelandic champion, and considering the personnel at Val, I don't see anything as an obstacle to us fighting for the title. I know some of the team very well and am getting to know others better. It's a cool mix of experienced men and young and promising guys that I'm looking forward to playing with.'

Lyngby had pledged to be 'patient' with Sigurdsson when he joined the club, but his stay was short-lived.

He made his debut in September 2023, more than two years after his last professional appearance, but his contract was terminated in January this year by mutual agreement.

Sigurdsson also made his return to international action in October last year, playing in Euro 2024 qualification matches nearly three years since his last appearance for Iceland.

He became his country's all-time top scorer in the break, netting twice against Liechenstein to take his total to 27 goals for his country.