After spending three fruitful seasons with Mumbai City FC, Lucian Goian will be donning the Chennaiyin FC colours in Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2019-20. The two-time Hero ISL champions confirmed the signing on their social media handles on Tuesday.

The towering Romanian centre back joined the Islanders ahead of the 2016 campaign and in his very first season in India, inspired the team to their first-ever semi-final in the Hero ISL. Over the course of the next two seasons, Goian went on to represent Mumbai City in a total of 50 Hero ISL matches and firmly established himself as one of the most coveted defenders in the league. He captained the Islanders in the 2017-18 campaign and played a major role in guiding them to the semis again in 2018-19.

Goian's ability to effortlessly put in challenges both on the ground and in the air makes him an imposing figure at the back. His tally of 246 tackles, 93 interceptions, 379 clearances and 63 blocks testifies to his ability to become the centre-piece of any defence. The veteran defender can also be a menace in the opposition box during set-pieces and can contribute with crucial goals.

Besides his personal prowess, the Romanian is also a natural leader on the pitch and leads by example. With Goian in the squad, Chennaiyin will hope to put last season’s disappointing run on the rear-view mirror and look forward to a successful 2019-20 season.