David Silva comes out of retirement to join Hong Kong Premier League club

David Silva has ended his three-year retirement at the age of 40, agreeing a short-term contract with Hong Kong Premier League club Supreme Sha Tin.

The former Manchester City and Real Sociedad midfielder announced his retirement in July 2023 after suffering a serious injury while playing for Real Sociedad. His final appearance in European football came against Almeria.

However, Silva has now decided to return to competitive football, following the example of Brazilian great Ronaldinho, who also made a surprise return to the professional game after initially retiring.

Supreme Sha Tin announced the move on its official Instagram account, describing the signing as an exceptional deal.

“Our founders have struck a major stroke of luck with this signing,” the club said.

The club also announced special privileges for supporters, including access to behind-the-scenes content and exclusive training sessions featuring the World Cup-winning former Spain international.

Silva is expected to make his first official appearance for the club in November. His arrival follows the signing of fellow Spaniard Aitor Aldalur, whose move to Supreme Sha Tin was confirmed a few days earlier.

The deal represents one of the most significant signings in Hong Kong football history. The previous major headline-making arrival came in 2018, when Uruguayan legend Diego Forlan joined Kitchee.

Silva’s move continues the tradition of celebrated former players returning to the game through unusual spells in Asia and Latin America. Ronaldinho previously attracted widespread attention when he returned to professional football with Italian third-tier club Ravenna FC.

Silva spent a decade at Manchester City after joining from Valencia in 2010, becoming one of the most influential players in the club’s history. He later moved to Real Sociedad, where his career was brought to an early end by the injury that led to his retirement in 2023.