Odisha FC announced the signing of goalkeeper Ravi Kumar for the seventh season of the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL), the Bhubaneswar-based club confirmed on Monday. The Uttar Pradesh-born custodian has signed a two-year deal with Odisha and becomes the second goalkeeper to be roped in by them after Kamaljit Singh, who also signed a two year contract with the club earlier this month.

"I am excited to be joining Odisha FC and I hope I can help the club compete for titles and trophies and hopefully play in AFC very soon. I’m looking forward to joining Ama Team," Ravi said shortly after signing for Odisha FC.

After making his bow in senior football with Indian Arrows and Sporting Clube de Goa, Ravi’s first experience in the Hero ISL came with Delhi Dynamos FC in the second season. However, he didn’t get any game time with Delhi and had to wait till the 2017-18 campaign for his Hero ISL debut with NorthEast United FC.

He then represented Mumbai City FC in Hero ISL 2018-19 and was their second-choice goalkeeper, keeping one clean sheet in his two appearances for the Islanders. The 26-year-old shot-stopper has also represented Hero I-League side Minerva Punjab FC earlier in his career.

Odisha’s President Mr Rohan Sharma believes that the Bhubaneswar-based club’s latest acquisition will increase the competition for places in goal. "I am happy to have Ravi join our squad. He is a goalkeeper with a lot of experience and can give good competition to Arsh (Arshdeep Singh) and Kamaljit (Singh)," he said.

Odisha has been one of the busiest Hero ISL clubs and have already signed a host of players like George D’SouzaKamalpreet SinghHendry Antonay and Saurabh Meher as well as midfielders Baoringdao Bodo, Laishram Premjit Singh and Thoiba Singh Moirangthem. They have also roped in Stuart Baxter as their new head coach for Hero ISL 2020-21.