Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Chennaiyin FC announced the signing of Nigerian striker Daniel Chima Chukwu ahead of the 2024-25 season, the club announced through their social media handle on Sunday.

The 33-year-old experienced centre-forward is a popular name among Indian football fans, having previously played for Indian Super League (ISL) outfits East Bengal FC and Jamshedpur FC.

Chennaiyin FC have signed a two-year contract with Chukwu that will keep him at the club till 2026. He becomes the club’s fourth signing of the 2024-25 season.

Chukwu was a crucial cog in the Owen Coyle-led Jamshedpur side that lifted the ISL League Shield in 2022. In 60 ISL matches across three seasons, he has registered 20 goals and four assists. Chukwu’s arrival has sharpened Chennaiyin’s offensive prowess as he is expected to play a pivotal role for the club, providing a great experience and leadership on the field.

Talking about the club’s new signing, head coach Coyle said, "I brought Daniel to Jamshedpur in the winter window of the 21/22 season and he scored 7 crucial goals in 9 games to help win us the shield. We have brought a goalscorer with a proven track record in India and we are sure he will fit into this squad seamlessly."

Chukwu has scored 114 goals in his professional career so far that began with the Norwegian club Molde FK in 2010. He helped them win three league titles as well as two Norwegian Cups. Two of his three league titles came while playing under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the former Manchester United manager.

"It's very exciting. Wanted to continue the journey but unfortunately, it ended with him (Coyle leaving JFC) and now the opportunity came up back on and I had to grab the opportunity to play under him," Chima said.

Besides featuring in the Europa League and Champions League Qualifying, Chukwu has guided Polish club Legia Warszawa to two league titles. He has also turned out for Chinese clubs Shanghai Shenxin, Heilongjiang Lava Spring and Taizhou Yuanda.

FC Goa rope in versatile full back Aakash Sangwan

Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa announced the signing of 28-year-old left-back Aakash Sangwan. The defender has put pen to paper on a multi-year deal that will see him don the iconic orange shirt of the club for the entire duration of the upcoming 2024-25 season and beyond.

Hailing from Haryana, Sangwan’s football journey began in the Minerva Punjab Academy, where his talent quickly shone through. After breaking into their first team in 2015-16, he made an immediate impact by helping Minerva Punjab secure promotion to the I-League.

His career trajectory then continued upward as he scored his first professional goal in the 2017-18 season, a crucial strike that propelled Minerva Punjab to the top of the league standings and ultimately to their maiden I-League title.

Sangwan’s time with Minerva also included notable performances in the AFC Cup, where he registered a memorable assist against Chennaiyin FC. Subsequent stints with Churchill Brothers and Roundglass Punjab further honed his skills, accumulating 59 I-League appearances, one goal, and three assists before making his Indian Super League debut with Chennaiyin FC in 2022.

Over two seasons with the Marina Machans, the defender featured in 48 matches across all competitions, scoring twice and assisting on 10 occasions. His remarkable ‘Olimpico’ goal against NorthEast United FC last season was instrumental in Chennaiyin FC’s return to the ISL Cup playoffs after a four-year hiatus.

Lokesh Bherwani, Director of Football at FC Goa, expressed his excitement about the new signing. “We are delighted to welcome Aakash Sangwan to FC Goa. His dynamic play and experience in both the I-League and ISL make him a valuable addition to our team.

“His ability to contribute defensively and offensively aligns perfectly with our football philosophy, which is why we have tracked his progress for a while now. We have signed him at the right time, and we believe his presence will enhance our squad’s depth and competitiveness in the upcoming seasons, as we aim to build on what we achieved last season,” he added.

Sangwan himself shared his enthusiasm about joining the Gaurs, saying, “I am excited to start this new chapter with FC Goa. The club’s ambitions and style of play resonate with me, and I am eager to contribute to the team’s success.

“I’ve always admired the footballing culture and the history of the sport in this state, and can’t wait to play in front of FC Goa’s passionate fan base at the Fatorda Stadium. I look forward to giving my best and achieving great things together with the team,” he signed off.

Related tags:

Chennaiyin FCFC Goa2023-2024 Daniel Chima ChukwuAakash Sangwan