Manchester City great David Silva has ended his retirement to join Hong Kong Premier League side Sha Tin at the age of 40.
Silva retired from football in 2023 after three seasons with Real Sociedad, following a serious knee injury. He will now return to competitive action with a club who are eighth in the Hong Kong Premier League after four matches.
Sha Tin only secured promotion to Hong Kong’s top flight last season.
“I’m so excited to go to Hong Kong and enjoy the local culture, the food in Sha Tin and, of course, football in Hong Kong,” Silva said in a video posted to Instagram.
The former Spain international spent a decade at Manchester City between 2010 and 2020, making 309 Premier League appearances for the club. That remains the highest number of league appearances made by any City player.
Silva scored 60 Premier League goals for City and created a further 93 for his team-mates. His total of 153 goal involvements is the second-highest recorded by a City player, behind Kevin De Bruyne’s 118 assists.
During his time at the Etihad Stadium, Silva helped City win the Premier League title four times. He also collected two FA Cups, five EFL Cups and two Community Shields.
His club career was accompanied by major international success with Spain. Silva won two European Championships and the World Cup during his time with the national team.
Before moving to England, Silva began his senior career with Valencia. He made 119 LaLiga appearances for the club, contributing 21 goals and 25 assists for 46 goal involvements.
Silva joined Manchester City in 2010 and became one of the defining players of the club’s most successful era. His return to football will now take him to Hong Kong, where Sha Tin are competing in the top division after their promotion last season.
The move comes three years after his retirement, which followed the knee injury he suffered while playing for Real Sociedad.