Delhi Dynamos FC completed their third signing of the summer by agreeing on a three-year contract with FC Pune City defender, Gaurav Bora. The move was announced on the club’s Twitter handle on Thursday, and sees the 20-year-old join winger Xisco Hernandez and midfielder Jerry Mawihmingthanga as the latest additions to Josep Gombau’s squad.

The youngster spent last season on loan to Chennai City FC from Pune, playing all 20 matches for the eventual Hero I-League champions. He was brilliant at the heart of Akbar Nawaz’s defence and earned widespread plaudits for the composure and maturity he displayed. The centre-back even scored a brace in Chennai City’s last match of the season against Minerva Punjab, helping ensure the club won the title.

It was the 20-year-old’s second season with the club after having been loaned to them in the 2017-18 campaign as well. He only played seven matches for Chennai that season, while played none for the Stallions in Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2017-18.

His performances last season prompted India U-23 coach Derrick Pereira to select him for the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers in February. He made his debut soon after, in the team’s first match against Uzbekistan.

The Dynamos will greatly benefit from an assured presence like Bora in their defence following Gianni Zuiverloon’s move to Kerala Blasters FC. The Lions conceded 27 goals from 18 matches in 2018-19 – the fourth worst in the division, something that they will look to better when the new season comes calling.

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2018-2019