Gylfi Sigurdsson returns to football two years after Everton exit

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Gylfi Sigurdsson has found a new club (Image: Lyngby Boldklub)
Gylfi Sigurdsson has found a new club (Image: Lyngby Boldklub)

Former Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson has signed for Danish side Lyngby Boldklub.

Sigurdsson, who played for several clubs during his time in England, hasn't featured in a competitive game for more than two years. The Iceland international, 33, has been a free agent since leaving Goodison Park when his contract expired in June 2022.

Major League Soccer side DC United, who are managed by Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, were interested in signing Sigurdsson earlier this summer. Yet the former Tottenham and Swansea star will now continue his career in Denmark.

Lyngby, who are currently ninth in the Danish Superliga, are managed by Icelandic coach Freyr Alexandersson. Sigurdsson knows his new boss well, as Alexandersson coached the former Premier League player during his time as Iceland's assistant manager.

"I hope that I can come in and contribute with a lot of experience and quality," Sigurdsson told Lyngby's website. "I know that there are a lot of young and talented players in the team, and I really want (them) to learn from me so that we can lift ourselves up together."

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Sigurdsson is also looking forward to meeting Lyngby's fans. He added: "I have heard about the good support we have, and I am very much looking forward to meeting the fans and not least playing in front of them."

Sigurdsson arrives in Denmark with a fine CV. He started his professional career at Reading, where he won their Player of the Year award after scoring 16 goals in 38 Championship games during the 2009/10 campaign. That captured Hoffenheim's attention.

The Bundesliga side signed Sigurdsson in August 2010. He enjoyed an impressive 18-month spell in Germany - winning Hoffenheim's Player of the Year award - before joining Premier League side Swansea on loan in January 2012.

Gylfi Sigurdsson returns to football two years after Everton exitSigurdsson hasn't played for more than two years (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Sigurdsson scored seven Premier League goals during his half-season spell at the Liberty Stadium to become a transfer target for Tottenham. He did OK during his two-year spell at Spurs, but they were happy to sell him to Swansea in July 2014.

Sigurdsson's second spell at Swansea was even better than his first, as he scored 27 goals in 106 Premier League games and won their Player of the Year award twice to earn a £40million move to Everton in August 2017. He played 156 times for the Toffees.

Lyngby's sporting director Nicas Kjeldsen said: "There is no doubt that we are incredibly proud and happy that today we can present Gylfi Sigurdsson as a Lyngby Boldklub player. Gylfi is a player from a shelf that we cannot normally bring players from."

Sigurdsson didn't play during his final year at Goodison Park and could take a while to get up to speed. His latest professional appearance was in Everton's 5-0 loss to Manchester City in May 2021, with the Icelander missing a penalty that day.

Kjeldsen added: "Gylfi has not played football in the past few years, which is why we will of course be patient with him. There is no doubt, however, that it is a huge profile that we have gained for Lyngby, and we are very proud of that."

Tom Blow

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