Former Sheffield Wednesday forward Fernando Forestieri has returned to English football with a move to National League North side Oxford City. The 36-year-old Argentine-Italian, who spent five years at Hillsborough, joins from Cypriot club AEL Limassol, subject to international clearance.

Forestieri expressed a desire to play in England to be closer to his family, who are settled in the country. He mentioned his wife is due to give birth in August and stated he feels good enough to play for another two years. He also said he misses English football and has started his coaching badges to potentially ease a future transition into a role here.

Oxford City reunion

The move reunites Forestieri with Oxford City manager Ross Jenkins, a former teammate from their time together at Watford. Jenkins said he is extremely pleased to secure the signing, describing Forestieri as a player with great experience, knowledge, tremendous ability and character. Oxford City currently sit third in the sixth-tier National League North.

Forestieri's career began in Argentina with Newell's Old Boys and Boca Juniors' youth setup before moves to Italy, Spain and England. He joined Watford in 2012, playing a key role in their promotion to the Premier League, before a switch to Sheffield Wednesday in 2015. At Wednesday, he scored 40 goals in 134 appearances, finishing as top scorer in the 2015-16 season and being named the club's Player of the Year. Spells at Udinese, Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta'zim and AEL Limassol followed his departure from Hillsborough in 2020.

Wednesday's strong start

Sheffield Wednesday, Forestieri's former club, are enjoying a strong start to their own campaign. They sit second in League One with 14 points from seven games, just one point behind leaders Bradford City. Danny Röhl's side are unbeaten in their last five matches, a run that includes three wins and two draws. The team has scored 11 goals so far this season, averaging 1.57 goals per game. Their next fixture is a home match against third-placed Wigan Athletic on Saturday. This season's squad's form and standings position provide a positive contrast to the veteran's new chapter in non-league.

Forestieri aims to contribute at Oxford City for the next two seasons, balancing football with family life as he awaits the birth of his child.

First reported at Yorkshire Post