One of Tottenham’s former midfielder has linked up with ex-Celtic boss Neil Lennon.
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A former Tottenham player has rocked up with a Scottish second tier side after spending a couple of months as a free agent. Victor Wanyama signed for Spurs in 2016, arriving on an £11million deal from Tottenham having been a vital player for the Saints for three years.
Wanyama was with Tottenham for four years, making 69 league appearances in all, but while he often played a key role, he also struggled with injuries at times, with knee issues causing him significant issues. Wanyama was meant to join Club Brugge in 2019, but he ended up rejecting the move, and he ended up joining Montreal CF on a free transfer in 2020, meaning Tottenham not only lost out on an £8million profit, but they lost out on any transfer fee.
During his time with Montreal, Wanyama made 117 league appearances and was a regular for the Canadian club, also remaining a Kenya international along the way. But his contract in MLS run out in January, and the midfielder has been looking for a club since, now 33 years of age.
Ultimately, he has decided to link up with Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic, who are managed by former Celtic and Bolton boss Neil Lennon. Dunfermline are currently second from bottom in the league and two points behind Hamilton.
Confirming the signging, the club website announced: “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. The 33-year-old defensive midfielder has had a decorated career, playing for clubs such as Celtic, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and most recently, CF Montreal.
“Wanyama made 64 appearances for Kenya, captaining the country at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, before retiring from international football in 2021. At Celtic, Wanyama quickly became a cult hero with his impressive performances for new manager, Neil Lennon’s side. Besides winning two league titles, Wanyama’s stock rose when he scored against Barcelona in the Champions League as Celtic pulled off a 2-1 win back in 2012.
“At the end of that season, Wanyama joined Premier League club Southampton for £12.5 million, making history as the first Kenyan in the English topflight. Following a spell at the Saints, he joined Tottenham Hotspur, reuniting with his former manager, Mauricio Pochettino. Victor was part of the squad that made the Champions League final for Spurs back in 2019. Victor joins the Pars after leaving Montreal in January. Welcome to the Pars Victor!”
Wanyama was part of one of the best Spurs sides in recent times, including the squad that reached the Champions League final, and it’s only the lack of trophies that he regrets about his time in North London. “My only regret from that era is that we did not win a big trophy,” he told FIFA last year.
"We had everything to do it, but just couldn’t pull it off. We had a great team and a great coach in Mauricio. We showed we could beat anyone. I remember one season (2016-17), we didn't lose a single home game. That's how good our team was."