Mumbai City FC have secured the services of ace midfielder Rowllin Borges. The club announced the signing through their social media handles on Wednesday, which also happens to be the Goa-born player’s birthday. The 27-year-old signed a three-year contract with the Islanders, which will keep him with the west-coast side till 2022.

From the Highlands to the Islands! Birthday boy Rowllin has decided to celebrate his next 3 birthdays with us #Islanders as he joins us on a 3 year contract! Let’s give him a warm welcome and make his special day even more special!! #ApunkaNayaSigning #ApunkaTeam pic.twitter.com/3G4yw1LTtM

— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) June 5, 2019

Borges has been a mainstay for NorthEast United FC since 2016 but had a revelation of a season during Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2018-19. Former Highlanders head coach Eelco Schattorie, who recently took up the top job at Kerala Blasters FC, reinvented Borges' style of play and turned the defensive enforcer into a box-to-box midfielder with great success.

The switch ensured Borges’s incredible stamina and ability to cover ground quickly was put to full use. Never having scored in 29 matches he played in the 2016 and 2017-18 season, Borges recorded his first-ever Hero ISL goal during NorthEast's 1-0 win over ATK on October 4, 2018. He ended the season with 4 goals and 2 assists – some unprecedented offensive returns for the midfield enforcer. Despite being used in a more offensive sense, Rowllin maintained his always-solid defensive stats as well, contributing with 53 tackles, 27 interceptions, 29 clearances and 20 blocks last season.

Along with Bartholomew Ogbeche and Federico Gallego, Borges was one of the standout players for NorthEast during the Highlanders' incredible run till the semi-finals of the Hero ISL 2018-19.

The India international will undoubtedly prove to be a solid addition to Mumbai City's midfield and represents a solid coup for the club.