The Hero Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have gone on about their business in terms of building their squads for the upcoming season as the nation has been rejoicing the Indian men's national team’s qualification for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

Edu Bedia is the biggest name to be retained this week as FC Goa announced that the midfielder had signed a new one-year extension that will keep him at the club till 2023.

It makes Bedia who will play his sixth season with the Gaurs their longest-serving foreign player.

“FC Goa has been my home since 2017. It is more than just a Club in my career. Goa and the fans have been an important part of my life. I am delighted to be back with the team,” Edu Bedia told fcgoa.in after signing on the dotted line.

“It has been a pleasure for me to complete various personal milestones and also to win laurels with the Club. However, I believe this coming season will be my most important at the Club and I fully believe we will be back amongst the top teams in the ISL.”

In 83 matches for FC Goa, Bedia has scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists for the Gaurs.

First signing for Kerala Blasters FC

Kerala Blasters FC have also been active in terms of squad-building and announced their first new signing of the season as they acquired the services of midfielder Bryce Miranda from Churchill Brothers.

The 22-year-old has signed a deal that will keep him at the Kochi-basec club till 2026.

Miranda started his professional career with Mumbai FC with whom, he represented all age group teams up to U-18. He then went on to a short stint with Union Bank FC before joining FC Goa’s developmental team in 2018. A year later, he joined Income Tax FC where he had a breakout season, scoring three goals and providing 10 assists in the 2019 Elite division.

His energetic, lung-busting and mesmerising performances in the Elite Division garnered a lot of attention. Amidst great interest from various Hero ISL and I-league clubs, in 2020, Bryce was eventually signed by the Goan I-League team, Churchill Brothers FC. He made 33 appearances for the club and was seen as an integral part of the Goan side that was closely fighting for the I-League championship over the last 2 seasons. He also had two goals and four assists during this time.

Lara Sharma, Wungngayam Muirang stay

Elsewhere, Bengaluru FC also announced contract extensions for goalkeeper Lara Sharma and defender Wungngayam Muirang.

Muirang featured in five matches for the Blues in Hero ISL 2021-22 campaign while Sharma deputised for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu during the latter half of last season also played five games for Bengaluru FC. It included a man of the match performance.

Chennaiyin FC also announced the signing of veteran midfielder Mohammad Rafique.

Notable deparures

There were a few departures as well with Mobashir Rahman who played a key part in Jamshedpur FC’s run to the League Winners’ Shield last season opting for a fresh challenge in the upcoming season. The Men of Steel announced the defender’s departure this week.

ATK Mohun Bagan also said goodbye to midfielder Bidyananda Singh and veteran goalkeeper Subrata Pal who had joined the Mariners last season on loan from Hyderabad FC.

More retentions and new signings could be expected in coming weeks as teams step up preparation for Hero ISL 2022-23.

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Kerala Blasters FCJamshedpur FCFC Goa Edu BediaLara SharmaMobashir Rahman