Former Tottenham midfielder Victor Wanyama has sealed a shock return to British football after signing a short-term contract at Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic.
The 33-year-old has spent the last five years playing in Major League Soccer (MLS) having joined CF Montreal from Spurs back in March 2020. After leaving Canada following 2024 season in January, Wanyama had been searching for his next club. A move back to England had been touted, but Wanyama has instead reunited with Neil Lennon in Scotland.
Lennon appointed in charge of Scottish second-tier side Dunfermline on Tuesday on a deal until the end of the season. And his first piece of transfer business was to bring in free agent Wanyama.
In a club statement released on Wednesday, Dunfermline said: "DAFC are delighted to announce the signing of Kenyan international, Victor Wanyama, on a deal until the end of the season, subject to international clearance."
Dunfermline have endured a difficult campaign so far and they are at risk of relegation to the third tier. The club sit ninth place in the table, six points clear of rock bottom Airdrieonians and are in danger of competing in the Championship play-offs. However, they do have a game-in-hand on eighth-place Hamilton, who are two points ahead.
Wanyama and Lennon worked together during their time at Celtic. Having signed from Beerschot in summer 2011, Kenya ace Wanyama spent two years in Glasgow, winning the Scottish Premier League twice and the Scottish Cup once, before leaving to join Southampton for £12.5million.
A fruitful spell in the Premier League with Saints caught the eye of Tottenham, who brought him to north London in June 2016, as Mauricio Pochettino tried to strengthen up his midfield. Wanyama hit the ground running at Spurs, making 47 appearances in his debut season and helping them compete for the title.
But that is as good as it got for Wanyama at Tottenham as his second campaign was blighted with injuries and he struggled for form in his third year. In August 2019, Spurs agreed to sell Wanyama to Club Brugge for £13m, though he had concerns over the move and the deal ultimately broke down.
Wanyama did up leaving Spurs in March 2020 - a matter of weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic paused football around the world - as he signed for MLS side Montreal as a Designated Player. Wanyama helped Montreal win the Canada Championship in 2021 and enjoyed a successive five years in North America.
However, it was agreed late in 2024 that Wanyama would depart Montreal after making 133 appearances, scoring six goals, during his time there. Now at Dunfermline, Wanyama will be hoping to make a similar impact as he has at almost every club he has been at, as he approaches his 34th birthday in June.