Gylfi Sigurðsson facts for kids
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Gylfi with Iceland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson | ||
| Date of birth | 8 September 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Reykjavík, Iceland | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Víkingur Reykjavík | ||
| Number | 32 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| FH | |||
| 2003–2005 | Breiðablik | ||
| 2005–2008 | Reading | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2010 | Reading | 42 | (18) |
| 2008 | → Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2009 | → Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 15 | (3) |
| 2010–2012 | TSG Hoffenheim | 36 | (9) |
| 2012 | → Swansea City (loan) | 18 | (7) |
| 2012–2014 | Tottenham Hotspur | 58 | (8) |
| 2014–2017 | Swansea City | 106 | (27) |
| 2017–2022 | Everton | 136 | (25) |
| 2023–2024 | Lyngby | 5 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Valur | 19 | (11) |
| 2025– | Víkingur Reykjavík | 14 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2005 | Iceland U17 | 3 | (2) |
| 2006–2007 | Iceland U19 | 15 | (8) |
| 2007–2011 | Iceland U21 | 14 | (6) |
| 2010– | Iceland | 83 | (27) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:09, 11 October 2024 (UTC) |
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Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson (born on September 8, 1989) is a professional footballer from Iceland. He plays as an attacking midfielder for Besta deild karla club Víkingur Reykjavík. He also plays for the Iceland national team.
Gylfi started his professional football journey with Reading in England. In 2010, he moved to TSG Hoffenheim in Germany. This was Reading's biggest player sale at the time. He was named Player of the Season for Reading in 2009–10 and for Hoffenheim in 2010–11.
After a loan spell at Swansea City, he joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2012. He returned to Swansea in 2014. In 2017, he transferred to Everton for a club-record fee. He played for Everton for five years. In 2021, Gylfi faced a serious investigation that led to him not playing football for a period. The investigation was closed in 2023, and no charges were brought against him. He then returned to playing professionally with Lyngby in Denmark and Valur in Iceland.
Gylfi first played for Iceland in 2010. He helped his country reach their first major tournament, UEFA Euro 2016, where they made it to the quarter-finals. He also played in Iceland's first ever FIFA World Cup in 2018. As of October 2024, Gylfi has played 83 matches and scored 27 goals for Iceland. This makes him Iceland's all-time top scorer.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting with Reading
Gylfi was born in Reykjavík, Iceland. He played for local clubs FH and Breiðablik as a young player. He joined Reading's academy in 2005. He spent three years playing for their youth and reserve teams. In 2007, he signed his first professional contract.
First Team Experience (2008–2009)
Gylfi made his debut for Reading in the League Cup in August 2008. To gain more experience, he was loaned to Shrewsbury Town in October 2008. He scored in his first league game for Shrewsbury. He played six matches and scored one goal there. Later, he joined Crewe Alexandra on loan in February 2009. He scored three goals for Crewe.
Breakthrough Season (2009–2010)
In the 2009–10 season, Gylfi scored his first goal for Reading in the League Cup. He also scored his first league goal for the club. Gylfi played a big part in Reading's amazing run in the 2009–10 FA Cup. They beat Premier League teams like Liverpool and Burnley. He scored important goals in these matches.
In April 2010, Gylfi won the Championship Player of the Month award. He scored five goals in six matches that month. At the end of the season, he was named Reading's Player of the Season. He finished the season with 20 goals in 44 matches. His great performances attracted interest from other clubs.
Moving to Germany (2010–2011)
Gylfi started the 2010–11 season with another goal for Reading. In August 2010, he transferred to TSG Hoffenheim in Germany. This was a record sale for Reading. He made his debut for Hoffenheim in September 2010. A week later, he scored his first goal for the club with a free-kick. He scored ten goals and made two assists in his first season. In May 2011, Hoffenheim fans voted him their Player of the Season.
During the 2011–12 season, Gylfi played less often for Hoffenheim.
Loan to Swansea City (2012)
In January 2012, Gylfi joined Premier League club Swansea City on loan. He made his Premier League debut for Swansea on January 15. He helped set up the winning goal against Arsenal. He scored his first goal for Swansea in February. He scored two goals in a match against Wigan Athletic in March. He also scored two more goals against Fulham.
Because of his excellent play, Gylfi was named the Premier League Player of the Month for March. He was the first Icelander to win this award. In 18 Premier League matches for Swansea, he scored seven goals and made four assists. Swansea wanted to sign him permanently, but the deal did not happen at that time.
Playing for Tottenham Hotspur
On July 4, 2012, Gylfi joined Tottenham Hotspur. He was the first player signed by the new manager, André Villas-Boas. He scored his first competitive goal for Tottenham in a League Cup match in September 2012.
In February 2013, Gylfi scored his first Premier League goal for Tottenham. He also provided an assist in a win against Arsenal. In the 2013–14 season, he scored two goals against Norwich City. He also scored in a match against Chelsea.
Returning to Swansea City
In July 2014, Gylfi returned to Swansea City. He was happy to be back at a club he knew well. In the first match of the 2014–15 season, he helped Swansea beat Manchester United at Old Trafford. He scored the winning goal in that game. He continued his strong start with three assists in his next two matches.
In November 2014, Gylfi scored a free-kick goal against Arsenal. He also scored against Liverpool in December. In August 2016, Gylfi signed a new four-year contract with Swansea. He scored his first goal of the 2016–17 season in September. He finished that season with 9 goals and 13 assists. These contributions helped Swansea avoid being relegated from the Premier League.
Time at Everton
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On August 16, 2017, Gylfi joined Everton for a club-record transfer fee. He scored his first goal for Everton in a UEFA Europa League match. In November 2017, he scored his first Premier League goal for Everton. He ended the 2017–18 season with 6 goals and 5 assists.
In the 2018–19 season, Gylfi scored two goals in a match against Fulham. He also scored a penalty in a big win against Burnley. On September 16, 2020, Gylfi scored his 100th goal in English football. In February 2021, he scored a penalty against Liverpool. This was Everton's first away win against their rivals since 1999.
Gylfi left Everton in June 2022 when his contract ended.
Recent Career
In August 2023, Gylfi joined Danish Superliga side Lyngby Boldklub. He made his debut in September, which was his first professional game in over two years. In January 2024, his contract with Lyngby ended by mutual agreement.
On March 14, 2024, Gylfi signed a two-year contract with Valur in Iceland. He made his debut in the Icelandic Men's Football Super Cup in April. Six days later, he scored in his first league game for Valur.
On February 18, 2025, Gylfi signed with another Icelandic club, Víkingur Reykjavík.
International Career
Youth Teams
Gylfi played for Iceland's youth teams, including the under-17 and under-19 squads. He scored goals in the 2008 U19 European Championship qualifying matches. In November 2007, he made his debut for the under-21 team. He scored two goals in a big 6–0 win against San Marino.
Senior National Team
In May 2010, Gylfi made his debut for the senior Iceland national team. He helped Iceland's U21 team reach the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He scored two goals in the play-off against Scotland to help Iceland win.
On October 13, 2014, Gylfi scored two goals as Iceland beat the Netherlands in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match. He scored another penalty against the Netherlands in September 2015, which was the only goal in a 1–0 win. Gylfi was chosen to play for Iceland at UEFA Euro 2016. He scored Iceland's goal in their group stage match against Hungary.
In May 2018, Gylfi was part of Iceland's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He scored a penalty against Croatia in a group stage match. Gylfi scored two goals against Romania in October 2020. This helped Iceland get a spot in the play-offs for the UEFA Euro 2020 finals.
Gylfi did not play for Iceland between 2021 and 2023. After an investigation involving him was closed without charges in April 2023, he was called back to the national team. On October 4, 2023, he was selected for UEFA Euro 2024 qualification matches. He scored two goals in the match against Liechtenstein. These goals made him Iceland's all-time top scorer with 27 international goals.
Personal Life
In June 2019, Gylfi married Alexandra Ívarsdóttir. She was Miss Iceland in 2008. They had been together since 2010. Gylfi is also the uncle of Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir, who plays for the Iceland women's national football team.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Reading | 2008–09 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Championship | 38 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 44 | 20 | |||
| 2010–11 | Championship | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 2 | |||
| Total | 42 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 51 | 22 | ||||
| Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2008–09 | League Two | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |||
| Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 2008–09 | League One | 15 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 3 | ||||
| TSG Hoffenheim | 2010–11 | Bundesliga | 29 | 9 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 32 | 10 | |||
| 2011–12 | Bundesliga | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 36 | 9 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 39 | 10 | |||||
| Swansea City (loan) | 2011–12 | Premier League | 18 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 7 | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2012–13 | Premier League | 33 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 3 | — | 48 | 7 | |
| 2013–14 | Premier League | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | — | 35 | 6 | ||
| Total | 58 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 3 | — | 83 | 13 | |||
| Swansea City | 2014–15 | Premier League | 32 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 35 | 9 | ||
| 2015–16 | Premier League | 36 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 11 | |||
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 38 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 40 | 10 | |||
| Total | 106 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 112 | 30 | ||||
| Everton | 2017–18 | Premier League | 27 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 33 | 6 | |
| 2018–19 | Premier League | 38 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 41 | 14 | |||
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 38 | 3 | |||
| 2020–21 | Premier League | 36 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 44 | 8 | |||
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 136 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | 156 | 31 | |||
| Lyngby | 2023–24 | Superliga | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | |||
| Total | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | |||||
| Valur | 2024 | Úrvalsdeild | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 5 | |
| Total | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 5 | |||
| Career total | 428 | 103 | 25 | 9 | 19 | 8 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 499 | 124 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland | 2010 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2014 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2016 | 13 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2018 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 83 | 27 | |
- Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gylfi goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 October 2011 | Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal | 6 |  Portugal |
3–5 | 3–5 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualification |
| 2 | 12 October 2012 | Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania | 13 |  Albania |
2–1 | 2–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 22 March 2013 | Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia | 16 |  Slovenia |
1–1 | 2–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 2–1 | ||||||
| 5 | 11 October 2013 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 19 |  Cyprus |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 9 September 2014 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 25 |  Turkey |
2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 7 | 10 October 2014 | Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia | 26 |  Latvia |
1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 8 | 13 October 2014 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 27 |  Netherlands |
1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 9 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 10 | 3 September 2015 | Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands | 31 | Netherlands |
1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 11 | 10 October 2015 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 33 | Latvia |
2–0 | 2–2 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 12 | 13 November 2015 | National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland | 35 |  Poland |
1–0 | 2–4 | Friendly |
| 13 | 1 June 2016 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | 38 |  Norway |
2–3 | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 14 | 18 June 2016 | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France | 41 |  Hungary |
1–0 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 2016 |
| 15 | 24 March 2017 | Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër, Albania | 49 |  Kosovo |
2–0 | 2–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 16 | 5 September 2017 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 52 |  Ukraine |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 17 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 18 | 9 October 2017 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 54 | Kosovo |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 19 | 2 June 2018 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 56 | Norway |
2–1 | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 20 | 26 June 2018 | Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia | 60 |  Croatia |
1–1 | 1–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup |
| 21 | 10 September 2019 | Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania | 70 | Albania |
1–1 | 2–4 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 22 | 17 November 2019 | Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova | 74 |  Moldova |
2–1 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 23 | 8 October 2020 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 75 |  Romania |
1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification playoffs |
| 24 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 25 | 12 November 2020 | Puskás Aréna, Budapest, Hungary | 77 | Hungary |
1–0 | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification playoffs |
| 26 | 16 October 2023 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 80 |  Liechtenstein |
1–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualification |
| 27 | 3–0 |
Awards and Achievements
Individual Awards
- Premier League Player of the Month: March 2012
- Football League Championship Player of the Month: March 2010
- Reading Player of the Season: 2009–10
- Hoffenheim Player of the Season: 2010–11
- Icelandic Footballer of the Year: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year: 2013, 2016
- Swansea City Player of the Season: 2015–16, 2016–17
See also
In Spanish: Gylfi Sigurðsson para niños
