Zeiko Lewis said he is “overjoyed” to have been given a new lease on his professional career after signing with Icelandic Select Division side FH this week.

The Bermuda international became a free agent after being released by New York Red Bulls last November without making an appearance in Major League Soccer.

But a four-month journey in the football wilderness ended after Lewis accepted the terms of an initial one-year deal, which he was offered after impressing the club’s coaching staff during a preseason camp in Spain.

“I am excited to get started with the team and overjoyed really about being back in the pro ranks,” Lewis told The Royal Gazette. “It’s always a pleasure to play and be given a chance to do what I love every day.”

FH finished third in the Select Division last season to qualify for next season’s Europa League.

“They are a top club in Iceland that get to play in Europa qualifiers and hopefully qualify for Champions League at some point if everything goes well,” Lewis said. “It’s a good club and a good bunch of guys who have welcomed me with open arms and I couldn’t have asked for anything else.

“My team-mates have supported me and are excited that I am coming through.

“I haven’t got the chance to go over to Iceland so I haven’t experienced the climate yet. Iceland sounds a little bit cold for me but I am looking forward to it and have prepared. I have my cold gear, so it should be fine.”

Lewis is one of two Bermudian players signed by European clubs this week as senior national squad team-mate William White joined Narpes Kraft, who play in the second tier of Finnish football, yesterday.

Lewis and White are not the only Bermudians now plying their trade in Europe. Danté Leverock is based at Estonian top-flight side Narva Trans and Willie Clemons is with Bodens, who play in the fourth tier of the Swedish game. Djair Parfitt-Williams, the former West Ham United forward, is at Rudar Velenje, of the Slovenia top division.

“It’s good to see Bermudians not feeling as though they just need to go to England to get their chance,” Lewis said.

“Even though you might not get to see a lot of these games on TV it’s still very good football and what these new avenues are providing are more opportunities and options than just going to England.”

The former Young Men’s Social Club player is on international duty in the Caribbean with Bermuda and scored in Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat against Antigua and Barbuda at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Bermuda face Barbados tomorrow and will be out to avenge last October’s 3-2 defeat to their hosts after squandering a 2-0 halftime lead at the National Stadium.

“When we played them last time, we let our foot off the gas and let them back into the game,” Lewis said. “Now that we get a second chance we need to show we are better than this.

“We have all the tools but just lacking conviction and once we get that we will be much better as a team.”