With the 2018-19 season of the Hero Indian Super League less than a month away, clubs have been scrambling to strengthen their squads in time. A number of players have joined the league as clubs embark on pre-season trips before the new season gets underway. Here we round up some of the biggest transfers that have taken place over the past month.

Jamshedpur bring in new blood

New head coach Cesar Ferrando has brought in a host of value-added signings to the squad since taking office. After the arrival of Michael Soosairaj last month, Jamshedpur signed the trio of Carlos Calvo, Pablo Morgado and Sergio Cidoncha. The trio have extensive experience playing in Spain and will undoubtedly bolster Ferrando’s squad ahead of the new season.

However, Jamshedpur grabbed all the attention earlier today when they announced the signing of Australian legend Tim Cahill. The former Everton attacker will be one of the players to watch out for when the new season kicks off.

Islanders strengthen core after Costa’s appointment

The biggest news to come out of Mumbai City FC this month was the appointment of Jorge Costa as the new head coach after Alexandre Guimaraes left the club. The Portuguese coach has wasted no time in bolstering his squad with the signings of Matias Mirabaje, Rafael Bastos, Marko Klisura. Bipin Singh made the switch from ATK to Mumbai earlier this month while the Islanders announced the signing of Paulo Machado on August 31 before the transfer window shut.

NorthEast United look to bounce back with fresh faces

The Highlanders have been one of the busiest sides during the transfer window, completing a string of high-profile signings. Recently appointed head coach Eelco Schattorie has given his side a major overhaul with the signings of Bartholomew Ogbeche, Juan Cruz Mascia, Jose David Leudo, Augustine Okrah and Keegan Pereira this week.

Earlier in the month Robert Lalthlamuana had extended his contract with the club, while Provat Lakra joined the club from Gokulam Kerala.

Delhi Dynamos splash the cash late on

After a dormant summer, Delhi Dynamos left it to the month of August to compete the majority of their transfer business. However, the main priority was the recruitment of a new head coach after Miguel Portugal departed the club earlier this year. Spaniard Josep Gombau took over the reigns at the club and immediately set out building his squad for the upcoming season.

Since his appointment, the Lions have signed former Hero ISL champion Rene Mihelic from Chennaiyin FC, while also recapturing Marcos Tebar from FC Pune City. On deadline day, Delhi signed the trio of Adria Carmona, Pradeep Mohanraj and Gianni Zuiverloon after the arrivals of forward Andrija Kaluderovic, defender Marti Crespi and goalkeeper Dorronsoro Sanchez.

ATK and Pune snap up big name signings

FC Pune City made arguably the most high-profile signing of the summer transfer window when they brought in Hero ISL’s all-time top goal scorer Iain Hume. The Canadian forward, who suffered the majority of last season with injury, will be hoping to cause havoc to opposition defences along with Marcelinho and Emiliano Alfaro. Under new head coach Miguel Portugal, the Stallions have also brought in Mathew Mills, Martin Diaz and Jonathon Vila.

Two-time champions ATK have signed an impressive array of foreign and Indian players this season. In the month of August, the Kolkata-based side snatched away Andre Bikey from Jamshedpur and Everton Santos from Mumbai City FC.

Chennaiyin, Goa, Kerala and Bengaluru round off transfer window with new additions

Defending champions Chennaiyin FC replaced departing Rene Mihelic with Spaniard Andrea Orlandi. On deadline day, Carlos Salom joined John Gregory’s men on a season-long loan deal from Bangkok United.

Goa replaced last season’s maestro Manuel Lanzarote with Miguel Palanca, while veteran Carlos Pena has been roped in to shore up the backline.

Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC completed most of their transfer business early on and made only one signing each last month. The Blues signed Spanish defender Albert Serran while Kerala swooped in on Serbian midfielder Nikola Krcmarevic.

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2018-2019