Gylfi Sigurðsson

1.1. Birth and Background

Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson was born on 8 September 1989 in Reykjavík, Iceland, specifically in Hafnarfjörður. He is the uncle of Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir, who also plays for the Iceland women's national football team.

1.2. Youth Clubs

Gylfi played for his hometown side FH before joining Breiðablik. He also spent time on trial with Preston North End and Arsenal before signing for Reading on an academy scholarship on 1 October 2005. He spent three years playing for Reading's youth and reserve teams. Prior to the 2007-08 season, he and five other young players were given professional contracts.

2.1. Reading

Ahead of the 2008-09 season, Gylfi was assigned the number 34 shirt for Reading. He made his debut on 26 August 2008 in the second round of the League Cup against Luton Town, entering as a 59th-minute substitute in a 5-1 win at the Madejski Stadium. He scored in Reading's penalty shoot-out loss away to Stoke City in the third round.

To gain first-team experience, Gylfi signed for Shrewsbury Town on a one-month loan spell on 16 October 2008. Two days later, he scored on his league debut against AFC Bournemouth in a 4-1 win. He made a total of six appearances for Shrewsbury, scoring one goal. He returned to Reading and featured in their FA Cup third round loss to Cardiff City on 3 January 2009. On 27 February, he joined Crewe Alexandra on an emergency loan. Two days later, he made his debut against Brighton, scoring in the 89th minute in a 4-0 win. His loan was extended until the end of the season on 24 March. He scored two further goals for Crewe against Milton Keynes Dons and Cheltenham Town, but could not prevent the club's relegation to League Two. He finished his loan at Crewe with 15 appearances and three goals.

Gylfi scored his first Reading goal from 35 yards out against Burton Albion in a League Cup first round tie on 11 August 2009. He scored his first league goal for Reading in a 3-2 defeat at Peterborough United on 19 September 2009. Gylfi was a major contributor in Reading's extraordinary 2009-10 FA Cup run. On 13 January 2010, in the third round of the FA Cup against Liverpool, he scored a penalty in injury time to force extra time in a match Reading eventually won 2-1. He scored the winning goal in the 87th minute against Burnley in the fourth round and the winning goal against West Bromwich Albion in the fifth round for a 3-2 victory in extra time. In April 2010, Gylfi won the Championship Player of the Month Award for March, scoring five goals in six matches that month. On 2 May, Gylfi scored against Preston North End in the final match of the season. Before the match, Gylfi was named the 2009-10 Reading Player of the Season. He finished the season with 20 goals in 44 matches across all competitions. His performances and young age prompted several Premier League clubs to inquire about his availability, but he committed his future to Reading by signing a three-year contract in May 2010.

Gylfi scored his first goal of the 2010-11 season in the first match, a 2-1 home loss against Scunthorpe United, with a 25-yard equalizer. On 28 August, he scored a short-range chip against Leicester City. On 31 August, he completed a transfer to 1899 Hoffenheim, with Reading reporting the fee received exceeded their previous club record sale of 6.50 M GBP from the sale of Kevin Doyle.

2.2. TSG Hoffenheim

Gylfi made his debut for TSG Hoffenheim on 10 September 2010, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Schalke 04. One week later, he scored his first goal for Hoffenheim in a 2-2 draw with 1. FC Kaiserslautern after coming on as a 77th-minute substitute, scoring with his first touch from a 20-yard free-kick. His second goal for the club was another free-kick, from 25 yards out against Mainz 05 in a 4-2 away defeat. He added two more goals to his tally in Hoffenheim's home win against Hannover 96, one of which was from the penalty spot. On 25 May 2011, Gylfi was voted as 1899 Hoffenheim's fans' Player of the Season, despite only starting 13 matches. He finished the season with ten goals and two assists. During the first half of the 2011-12 season, Gylfi fell out of favor with the club's new manager, making just seven league appearances, and was linked with a move away from the club.

2.3. Swansea City (First Spell)

On 1 January 2012, it was announced Gylfi would join Premier League club Swansea City on loan for the rest of the season. He made his Premier League debut for Swansea on 15 January, coming on at half-time and setting up the winning goal in a 3-2 win over Arsenal. On 4 February, Gylfi scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win against West Bromwich Albion. He also created Swansea's other goal for Danny Graham, taking his tally to three assists in four matches. On 3 March, he scored two goals in a 2-0 victory away at Wigan Athletic, his first from a free-kick. Two weeks later, he scored another brace in a 3-0 away win against Fulham. He scored his next goal at White Hart Lane in his team's 3-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on 1 April.

As a result of his fine form, Gylfi was named the Premier League Player of the Month for March, the first Icelander to win the award. His next goal came in a 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers that put the club on 42 points for the season.

On 28 May, Swansea agreed a 6.80 M GBP fee with 1899 Hoffenheim for the permanent transfer of Gylfi, subject to him passing a medical. However, following Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers' move to Liverpool, the deal collapsed. In 18 Premier League matches during his loan spell for Swansea, Gylfi scored seven goals and added four assists.

2.4. Tottenham Hotspur

On 4 July 2012, Gylfi joined Tottenham Hotspur from 1899 Hoffenheim for a reported 8.00 M GBP transfer fee. He was the first signing for newly appointed Spurs manager André Villas-Boas. On 18 July, he scored his first goal for the club in a friendly against Stevenage. On 26 September, he scored his first competitive goal for the club in a League Cup third round tie away against Carlisle United, closing the scoring in a 3-0 win.

Brian McDermott confirmed Reading made three unsuccessful bids to bring Gylfi back to his former club during the January 2013 transfer window, including a club record offer of around 10.00 M GBP. On 25 February, Gylfi scored his first Premier League goal for Tottenham, the second goal in a 3-2 win against West Ham United. In the following match, a 2-1 North London derby win against Arsenal, he provided the assist for Gareth Bale.

In the 2013-14 season, Gylfi scored twice in a 2-0 win against Norwich City on 14 September 2013, which took Spurs up to second in the Premier League table. Gylfi's momentum continued on 28 September 2013, scoring in a 1-1 home draw against Chelsea.

2.5. Swansea City (Second Spell)

In July 2014, Tottenham announced a deal had been reached with Swansea City for Gylfi to re-join his former club, with Swansea left-back Ben Davies joining Spurs as part of the exchange, along with Michel Vorm. Gylfi stated his enjoyment of his previous time at the club and familiarity with the team and city. In the opening match of the 2014-15 season, he set up the opener and scored the winning goal as Swansea defeated Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford, marking the first time the Red Devils had lost their opening home game since 1972. Gylfi continued his strong start with three more assists in his next two matches. In a home match against Arsenal on 9 November 2014, Gylfi scored a free-kick from 25 yards to equalize in an eventual 2-1 win. Gylfi scored in a 4-1 away defeat against Liverpool at Anfield on 29 December.

On 17 January 2015, a wayward pass by Gylfi led to Oscar scoring after 50 seconds in an eventual 5-0 home defeat for Swansea against Chelsea. A week later, he scored and was sent off in added time at the end of a 3-1 defeat away to Blackburn Rovers in an FA Cup fourth round tie, with Swansea already down to ten men.

Amidst rumors of a 25.00 M GBP move to Everton, Gylfi signed a new four-year contract with Swansea on 2 August 2016. He scored his first goal of the 2016-17 season on 11 September against Chelsea with a second-half penalty in a game which finished 2-2. He ended the season with 9 goals and 13 assists, which helped the Swans avoid relegation. In summer 2017, Gylfi refused to participate in Swansea's pre-season tour of the United States, citing uncertainty over his future.

2.6. Everton

On 16 August 2017, Gylfi signed for fellow Premier League side Everton for a reported 40.00 M GBP transfer fee (with 5.00 M GBP in potential add-ons), a club-record deal. Eight days later, he scored his first goal for Everton while making his full debut, with a shot from 50 yd in the UEFA Europa League play-off round second leg against Hajduk Split. On 26 November 2017, he scored his first Premier League goal for Everton against Southampton, though Everton lost the match 4-1. He ended the 2017-18 season with 6 goals and 5 assists in 31 appearances.

Gylfi started the 2018-19 season with an assist to Michael Keane in a friendly match against Valencia, which Everton lost 3-2. On 29 September 2018, he scored his first brace with the club in a 3-0 victory against Fulham. On 26 December 2018, he assisted and scored a penalty in a 5-1 victory against Burnley. For the 2018-19 season, he scored 13 goals, making him a top scorer for the team alongside Richarlison.

Gylfi scored his 100th goal in English football during Everton's second round EFL Cup tie against Salford City on 16 September 2020. On 20 February 2021, he scored a penalty in a 2-0 league win over Liverpool at Anfield, sealing Everton's first away win over their rivals since September 1999.

On 10 September 2021, Gylfi was left out of Everton's final Premier League squad for the 2021-22 season. He left the club in June 2022 when his contract expired.

2.7. Later Career

In June 2023, Gylfi was in talks to join D.C. United, managed by his former Everton teammate Wayne Rooney. On 31 August 2023, he joined Danish Superliga side Lyngby BK on a one-year deal. He made his debut on 22 September in his first professional game for over two years, as a 70th-minute substitute for compatriot Sævar Atli Magnússon in a 1-1 home draw with Vejle Boldklub.

By mutual agreement, Lyngby confirmed on 21 January 2024 that Gylfi's contract had been terminated as he was battling back from injury. He had waived his salary during his rehabilitation, which could only happen if the agreement was terminated. The player and the club had agreed that he could sign a new deal after his recovery, but following a managerial switch, the club decided not to re-sign him.

On 14 March 2024, Gylfi signed a two-year contract with Valur, joining a Besta deild karla team for the first time in his senior career. He made his debut on 1 April in the Icelandic Super Cup, playing the first half against Víkingur, who won on penalties. Six days later, in the first game of the league season, he scored to conclude a 2-0 home win over ÍA.

On 18 February 2025, Gylfi signed for fellow Besta deild karla club Víkingur.

3.1. Youth National Teams

Gylfi made his under-17 debut in 2005, making 3 appearances and scoring 2 goals. He also represented the under-18 team in 2006 (3 appearances, 1 goal) and the under-19 team from 2006 to 2007 (12 appearances, 7 goals). He took part in the 2008 U19 European Championship qualifying, scoring twice in qualification and twice in the elite round, but Iceland missed out on the finals.

In November 2007, Gylfi made his under-21 debut for Iceland, playing 30 minutes against Germany in a 3-0 loss. He made his first appearance in the 2009 European Under-21 Championship qualifying four days later, coming as an extra-time substitute. In Iceland's last match, he scored the opener against Slovakia, but Slovakia's Miroslav Stoch equalized to make it 1-1. Iceland failed to qualify for the play-offs but made a bright start to the 2011 campaign. He made his campaign debut in October against San Marino, scoring two goals within 16 minutes in a 6-0 thrashing. He played a crucial role in Iceland's U21 side reaching the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, playing in both play-off legs against Scotland as Iceland won 4-2 on aggregate. In the second leg, Gylfi scored two second-half goals to ensure Iceland won the match 2-1. Overall, he made 14 appearances for the U21 team, scoring 6 goals.

3.2. Senior National Team

In May 2010, Gylfi made his full Iceland debut in a convincing 4-0 win over Andorra and provided the assist for the second goal from a free-kick.

On 13 October 2014, Gylfi scored both goals (one a penalty) as Iceland defeated the Netherlands in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match. In the reverse fixture on 3 September at the Amsterdam Arena, he converted another spot-kick for the only goal of the match, after Gregory van der Wiel fouled Birkir Bjarnason.

Gylfi was selected for UEFA Euro 2016. On 18 June, he scored Iceland's goal in their second group stage match against Hungary, a 1-1 draw at the Stade Vélodrome. Iceland advanced to the quarter-finals in their first major tournament appearance.

In May 2018, Gylfi was named in Iceland's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. During the group stage match against Croatia, he scored a penalty in the 76th minute, but Iceland lost 2-1 and were eliminated at the group stage.

Gylfi scored twice against Romania on 8 October 2020, earning Iceland a place in the play-offs for the UEFA Euro 2020 finals.

Gylfi did not play for Iceland between 2021 and 2023. After the British police investigation into him was closed without charge in April 2023, new Iceland manager Åge Hareide stated his hope that Gylfi would return to play, acknowledging his past contributions as potentially Iceland's best player. The chair of the Football Association of Iceland confirmed that there was nothing to impede the player representing the country again.

On 4 October 2023, nearly three years since his last appearance for the national team, Gylfi was called up for UEFA Euro 2024 qualification matches against Luxembourg and Liechtenstein on 13 and 16 October respectively. He scored a brace in the Liechtenstein match and reached his 27th international goal, becoming Iceland's all-time top scorer.

7.1. Club

Notes:
¹ Appearance in Football League Trophy
² Appearances in UEFA Europa League

7.2. International

Gylfi Sigurðsson's international career includes 83 appearances and 27 goals for the Iceland national team as of October 11, 2024.

Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gylfi goal.