Former Manchester City midfielder David Silva has come out of retirement at the age of 40 to play for Hong Kong Premier League club Sha Tin.

Silva was one of the first marquee signings at City when he joined from Valencia in 2010.

The playmaker won four Premier League titles in a decade at the Etihad Stadium and also won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain.

He retired in 2023 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear during pre-season training at Real Sociedad but is now going to play in Hong Kong.

“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 on Instagram.

Promoted Sha Tin are eighth in the league after four matches, and will continue their campaign against Hong Kong Football Club on October 18.

“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,” Sha Tin said.