Bengaluru FC have been a consistent force in the Indian Super League (ISL) since their debut in the 2017-18 season. However, last season marked a low point for the Blues as they finished 10th in the league— their lowest-ever to date.

Midway through the campaign, the club made a significant change by appointing Gerard Zaragoza as head coach, someone familiar with the club from previous stints. Despite the change, it did little to lift their fortunes as they continued to struggle.

Much like the previous winter transfer window, Bengaluru FC has made some high-profile signings. With Zaragoza now settled at the helm, he will be eager to steer the team back to where they belong—among the top contenders in the league.

Season	Outcome
2017-18	1st Position (Lost in the final)
2018-19	1st Position (ISL Cup winner)
2019-20	3rd position (Lost in the semi-final)
2020-21	7th position
2021-22	6th position
2022-23	4th position (Lost in the final)
2023-24	10th position

This season, the Blues have made a promising start, maintaining a perfect record in the group stage of the Durand Cup before narrowly overcoming their Kerala Blasters FC in the quarterfinal.

In the semi-final, Bengaluru FC were on the verge of another famous victory against defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant. However, after squandering a two-goal lead, they fell short in a dramatic penalty shootout.

Translating their cup form to the league will be a challenging task, but with the quality they've shown so far, there’s every reason to believe they can make their mark in the upcoming campaign.

Team composition and Transfer dealings

After enduring their most challenging season in the ISL, Bengaluru FC have made substantial changes to their squad. They have retained only two foreign players, Aleksandar Jovanovic and Ryan Williams while bringing in four new internationals: ISL Cup-winning duo Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Alberto Noguera, alongside Pedro Capo and Edgar Mendez.

Rahul Bheke, who captained Mumbai City FC to ISL Cup glory, has also rejoined Bengaluru FC for a second spell.

The club has seen the departure of key players such as Javi Hernandez, Jayesh Rane, and Rohit Kumar. Nevertheless, the newly revamped Bengaluru FC, as seen in their performances during the Durand Cup, is set to make a significant impact and improve upon their ISL performance from last season.

Transfers IN

Pedro Capo (Joined from Eldense) Details
Jorge Pereyra Diaz (Joined from Mumbai City FC) Details
Alberto Noguera (Joined from Mumbai City FC) Details
Lalthuammawia Ralte (Joined from Odisha FC) Details
Rahul Bheke (Joined from Mumbai City FC) Details
Edgar Mendez (Joined from Club Necaxa) Details
Mohammed Salah (Joined from Punjab FC) Details

Transfers OUT

Parag Shrivas Details
Keziah Veendorp (Contract Terminated) Details
Shankar Sampingiraj (End of Contract) Details
Amrit Gope (End of Contract) Details
Vikram Singh (End of Contract) Details
Oliver Drost (End of Contract) Details
Slavko Damjanovic (End of Contract) Details
Javi Hernandez (End of Contract) Details
Rohit Kumar (End of Contract) Details
Robin Yadav (End of Contract) Details
Amay Morajkar (End of Contract) Details
Lara Sharma (Joined FC Goa) Details
Jayesh Rane (End of Contract) Details

Key Players

Jorge Pereyra Diaz

Pereyra Diaz has established himself as a key player in the league since his arrival with Kerala Blasters FC in the 2021-22 season. Following two productive seasons with Mumbai City FC, Diaz is ready to extend his goal-scoring prowess with the Blues.

The Argentine forward, known for his impressive link-up play and clinical finishing inside the box, has accumulated 29 goals and eight assists in the league. He has already made his mark with the Blues, netting three goals—including a crucial stoppage-time winner against Kerala Blasters FC—and adding two assists to his tally in the Durand Cup.

Rahul Bheke

The veteran defender is one of the high-profile signings for the Blues in the summer transfer window. Bheke was a key member of the Bengaluru FC side that won the ISL Cup in the 2018-19 season. In fact, it was Bheke who scored the decisive winner in the 117th minute of the final.

His comeback is poised to be a significant boost for the team, aiming to rebound from a challenging previous season.

Renowned for his strategic game-reading and strong leadership, Bheke’s presence will not only reinforce the defensive line but also elevate the overall team dynamics as Bengaluru FC look to reclaim its place among the league's elite.

Fixtures

The Blues face a challenging start to the season.

They kick off their campaign at home against familiar foes East Bengal FC, followed by a fixture with Hyderabad FC just four days later.

The home fixtures continue for Bengaluru FC, but the challenge intensifies as they host the ISL Shield winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant, before travelling to Mumbai to take on the ISL Cup winners in Matchweek 4.

In December, they will confront their Southern rivals Kerala Blasters FC and Chennaiyin FC.

Take a look at their full fixtures here.