Town have signed 17-year-old Icelandic midfielder Gunnar Thorsteinsson on a two-year academy scholarship. Thorsteinsson was on trial at Playford Road in the winter and again in May, impressing academy staff enough to be offered terms.

Thorsteinsson, who has been capped five times at U17 international level, came through the ranks at Icelandic club Grindavik, where his father Thorsteinn Gunnarsson is the chairman, making two senior appearances in 2009 and becoming their youngest ever first team player in the process.

TWTD’s Icelandic sources tell us Gunnarsson's dad has been an avid Town fan since his youth, visiting Portman Road on number occasions, and has passed his passion for the Blues on to his son.

Academy recruitment officer Malcolm Moore told TWTD that Grindavik were very helpful as Town completed the move: “The club have been very supportive and have given him the opportunity to come and join us. We’re pleased to see him here and we’ll see how it goes.

“He’s a strong central midfield player. He could also play at the back. He is creative given time, but we’re hoping we can quicken him up a little bit.

“We like what we see. He’s a good physical player, covers the ground well and we’ll see whether we can work with him to lift him up to the level that we expect in academy U18 football, which is very fast. Everything he does, we just want to quicken it up a little bit.”

Moore is pleased that one of Thorsteinsson’s fellow countrymen has also been recruited to the senior squad this summer: “I think Ívar Ingimarsson knows his dad from Iceland and it’s good for the lad that he's joined us at the same time, so there’ll be a little bit of Icelandic banter in the canteen at times!”

Left-sided Thorsteinsson isn’t the first player the Blues have signed from Grindavik, keeper Óskar Pétursson spending two years at Playford Road before returning to his old club, where he is currently their number one.

Thorsteinsson and the rest of the academy's new recruits, along with the second-year scholars, started their pre-season programme last Wednesday.

Photo: Action Images

wisebluey added 23:41 - Jul 4 thas wat we need un ut
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TractorBoy added 23:44 - Jul 4 Good luck, Gunnar!
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TownOnTheUp added 23:47 - Jul 4 Wow, is this the signing that Jewell promised? Joking, welcome to the club and good luck.
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TractorBeezer added 23:56 - Jul 4 Welcome Gunnar...with that name you may have chosen Arsenal but we're glad you are here!
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petersongoal added 00:10 - Jul 5 i bloody love a bit of big aggressive icelandic football! glad the kid has signed up! welcome pal and good luck to you!
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Jimmy added 00:29 - Jul 5 If and when this guy breaks onto the first team scene don't let him room share with Civelli... he'll have him using some volcano excuse to be late for training... as if Iceland and Argentina have volcanoes!! ;-)
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arc added 00:32 - Jul 5 Oh yes! Much better than Bowyer.
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stupidbigmouthhead added 00:32 - Jul 5 Wonder what the grubs like in the town canteen
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StockholmDave added 00:43 - Jul 5 They'll have to add Puffin to the menu!!
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MightyBlues added 00:58 - Jul 5 I hope that's not one of the two signings promised! We need experience and quality to get out of this division! It would be good to see a couple more signings particularly players who have an appetite and hunger to succeed. Come on TOWN....
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WadzillaBhoy added 02:21 - Jul 5 Wow so it is true in Iceland their surname changes to the fathers first name.
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kiddi added 02:59 - Jul 5 Yes WadzillaBhoy, in most cases our surname is our fathers first name, adding son or daughter after our fathers first name, my father name is Einar so im Einarsson, and my sisters are Einarsdottir.
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Sindre94 added 03:25 - Jul 5 you guys talk like scandinavian people are monsters! we're normal people (norwegian)
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DiamondGezzer added 05:25 - Jul 5 Welcome aboard ' Thor '.
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itfcjc added 07:20 - Jul 5 Go on gunner
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JoshTheLad added 07:35 - Jul 5 Does this mean he can play for our 1st team squad?
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sereneblue added 07:53 - Jul 5 Wise Bluey What planet do you come from. We speak English on this earth,give it try.
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London_Blue added 07:54 - Jul 5 Just to put this into perspective; Wayne Rooney scored against Arsenal in the Premiership for Everton at aged 16!
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bully added 08:24 - Jul 5 i take it this isnt the next signing we are expecting as it was announced monday night?
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clive_baker added 08:32 - Jul 5 London_blue - And Ian Wright was working full time in an East London factory until he was 22 and Palace took a punt. Not really sure what your point is.
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Moscow_Blue added 08:39 - Jul 5 Met his parents at Playford Road last week and we are sponsoring (www.greenrighthomes.co.uk) him through the Academy system. Good luck to him and if he is half as good for ITFC as Hermann then we will be very happy.
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Barhamblue added 08:48 - Jul 5 His Gunnar be good. Welcome my friend
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radiogaga added 08:54 - Jul 5 The next Vemund Brekke Skard?!
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Hunterssecondball added 09:28 - Jul 5 The god of THOR rode forth one day, Upon his hansome filly, "I'M THOR ! " he cried, His horse replied, "Here, you forgot you thaddle thilly"
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fourpee added 09:39 - Jul 5 Welcome !!
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