Birkir Bjarnason heads to Qatar on short-term deal after summer Aston Villa release

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Birkir Bjarnason has finally found himself a new club after leaving Aston Villa on a free transfer in the summer. 

With Aston Villa strengthening over the summer, following promotion to the Championship, there was little scope for Bjarnason to be anything other than a bit-part player at Villa Park. 

The Icelandic star had struggled to win over Dean Smith since his arrival at the club, playing just 16 minutes of football post-January.

Therefore, he was granted his release over the summer and has recently been linked with returns to Italian football and Derby County. 

However, he has instead turned up in Qatar. Bjarnason has signed on at Al-Arabi, who are managed by former Icelandic head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. 

It is not a long-term deal for the former Aston Villa star. He has signed a three-month deal to provide cover fro countryman Aron Gunnarsson, who is suffering from an ankle injury. 

Therefore, Bjarnason is set to be a free agent yet again in January.

Bjarnason never quite clicked at Aston Villa, despite his strong reputation built with superb performances for the Icelandic national team. 

But no Aston Villa fan will begrudge him any success in his short-term Qatar spell.