Former Manchester City midfielder David Silva has returned to professional football at the age of 40, joining Hong Kong Premier League club Sha Tin two years after announcing his retirement.

Silva, who retired in 2023 following an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered during pre-season training with Spanish side Real Sociedad, is set to begin another chapter of his distinguished football career in Hong Kong.

The former Spain international spent a decade at Manchester City, where he established himself as one of the club’s most influential players and helped the team win four Premier League titles and 11 major trophies.

Silva was also a key member of Spain’s golden generation, winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup and two European Championship titles with the national team.

Announcing his return, Silva expressed excitement about moving to Hong Kong and experiencing the country’s culture while returning to competitive football.

“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 on his Instagram on Wednesday.

Sha Tin confirmed that the former Manchester City star would not immediately make his competitive debut, as he is expected to first settle into the squad and work on his fitness.

“David Silva will be in Hong Kong soon to settle in, link up with squad training, and build up to peak match fitness before making his pitch debut,” the club said.

Sha Tin currently occupy eighth position in the Hong Kong Premier League after four matches. The club are scheduled to face Hong Kong Football Club on October 18, although Silva’s availability for the fixture will depend on his fitness and integration into the squad.

Silva’s return marks an unexpected continuation of a career that had appeared to have ended two years ago.

After beginning his professional career in Spain, Silva went on to become one of the most decorated midfielders of his generation.

His decade at Manchester City coincided with the club’s rise into one of England’s leading football sides.

His technical ability, vision, passing and control made him a central figure in City’s midfield during a period that produced multiple domestic trophies.

Silva also earned widespread recognition for his contribution to the Spanish national team, featuring in a side that won the 2010 World Cup and European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

His achievements at Manchester City have also been permanently recognised, with the club honouring him with a statue outside the Etihad Stadium.

At 40, Silva now faces a different challenge as he prepares to regain match fitness and adapt to a new football environment in Hong Kong.

For Sha Tin, the arrival of a player with Silva’s experience and pedigree adds significant international attention to the club and the Hong Kong Premier League.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega has announced his intention to challenge incumbent Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in next year’s election.

The 55-year-old former Switzerland international is the first candidate to publicly declare his intention to contest against Infantino, who has maintained that he remains committed to leading football’s world governing body.

Vega, who also represented Celtic and Watford during his playing career, retired from football in 2004 before moving into the finance sector.

Announcing his latest bid, the former centre-back said he wants to reunite the global football community, restore confidence in FIFA and introduce fundamental reforms to the organisation.

“I am standing to reunite the global football family, deliver genuine and lasting reform, modernise FIFA for the 21st Century, restore stability and credibility, and rebuild the trust that our game urgently needs,” Vega said.

The Swiss has previously explored a bid for the FIFA presidency. He considered running in 2015 following the suspension of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and later announced in 2019 that he would challenge Infantino.

However, Vega failed to secure the backing of the required five of FIFA’s 211 member associations and was consequently unable to appear on the ballot.

This time, he believes his professional and football experiences have prepared him for the leadership role.

“I am standing because my life has prepared me to serve the game,” he said.

Vega also criticised what he described as divisions and leadership problems within football administration, insisting that FIFA needs a new direction.

“Football does not belong to presidents, confederations or administrators. Football is greater than any position, any individual or any institution,” he said.

According to Vega, the sport belongs to its entire global community, including players, coaches, referees, supporters, clubs, leagues, national associations and local communities.

He further accused the current FIFA leadership of weakening the organisation’s credibility and undermining confidence among stakeholders.

“The current leadership has demoralised the game. Weak governance has damaged FIFA’s credibility and eroded trust across the global football family,” Vega said.

The former Switzerland international also called for an end to internal political battles within football administration, warning that such disputes could ultimately affect those who are central to the sport.

“Ego-driven battles within football administration must never be allowed to damage those who matter most:

the players, coaches, referees and supporters around the world. They are not responsible for these conflicts. They deserve better,” he said.

Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, has faced calls from some quarters to step aside.

However, he said last month that he remained “fully committed to leading FIFA.”

Vega, meanwhile, argued that FIFA could no longer rely on superficial adjustments, insisting that the organisation requires structural and fundamental reform.

“Football is in the emergency room, on life support. We cannot wait any longer. FIFA needs a new direction and fundamental reform,” he said.

The former Spurs defender will now have to secure the backing of at least five FIFA member associations to qualify for the presidential ballot.

His candidacy sets up the prospect of a renewed contest for the leadership of world football, although Vega must first overcome the same nomination hurdle that prevented him from contesting the presidency in 2019.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria staged a remarkable late comeback to secure a 3-3 draw against Russia in an international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday.

Nigeria twice found themselves trailing by two goals but fought back strongly in the second half to rescue a draw, with Akor Adams scoring a stoppage-time equaliser to deny the hosts victory.

Kelechi Iheanacho put the Super Eagles ahead in the 10th minute, giving Nigeria an early advantage against a Russian side that had entered the encounter in impressive form.

The hosts responded in the 30th minute when Lechi Sadulaev found the equaliser to make it 1-1.

Russia then completed the turnaround in first-half stoppage time, with Matvey Kislyak scoring to give the hosts a 2-1 lead heading into the break.

Alexey Miranchuk increased Russia’s advantage nine minutes after the restart, scoring in the 54th minute to put the hosts 3-1 ahead and leave Nigeria facing a difficult task.

The Super Eagles, however, refused to surrender and began their fightback in the closing stages of the match.

Peter Edokpolor reduced the deficit in the 78th minute, giving Nigeria renewed hope of salvaging a result from the encounter.

The pressure eventually paid off in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Akor Adams scored the equaliser to complete Nigeria’s comeback and secure a 3-3 draw.

The result means Nigeria remain unbeaten against Russia after the two countries’ second meeting. Their first encounter ended in a 1-1 draw in Moscow in June 2025.

The Nigeria Football Federation had described Tuesday’s encounter as the second meeting between both countries in 16 months.

The Super Eagles entered the friendly seeking a positive response after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Nigeria were also without several key players for the encounter. Captain Wilfred Ndidi was among the notable absentees, while injuries and club restrictions prevented several other players from joining the squad.

The NFF had said the circumstances had “seriously weakened” the squad ahead of the friendly.

Russia, meanwhile, came into the game with confidence after recording a convincing 6-0 victory over Namibia in their previous friendly.

Despite falling behind twice and conceding three goals, Nigeria’s resilience in the closing stages ensured the Super Eagles avoided another defeat and ended the international window on a positive note.

The comeback will provide some encouragement for the Nigerian side as preparations continue for upcoming competitive fixtures.