Jamshedpur FC had a rocky season in 2020-21, slumping to a mid-table finish. The Owen Coyle-led side managed to claim 27 points from their 20 games, registering 7 wins, 6 draws, and 7 losses. The Red Miners’ activity in the transfer market has been decisive this time around, signing players to ensure their outfit is ready to fire on all cylinders as the season commences.

Here’s a summary of their transfer activity this summer:

INs

Ishan Pandita

The Indian national team player has joined the Red Miners from FC Goa ahead of the 2021-22 season. After spending his formative years in Spain, Ishan Pandita returned to India to feature for FC Goa in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL).

He built a reputation of being a super-sub in the 2020-21 season, as he came off the bench to score on 4 separate occasions. Jamshedpur would look to use his sharpness and precision in attack to increase their goal-scoring threat this season.

Jordan Murray

Adding more firepower to Jamshedpur FC’s striking unit is Jordan Murray, who most recently played for Kerala Blasters. In 2020-21, he was primarily used off the bench until Matchweek 7 but then started featuring more regularly for the Blasters.

He racked up 7 goals and 1 assist in the last season and was also Kerala’s highest scorer. He enjoyed playing with strike partner Gary Hooper last season, and the forward can expect to find a similar companion in Lithuanian Nerijus Valskis.

Eli Sabiá

Eli Sabiá has made the switch to Jamshedpur FC, after spending 3 seasons with Chennaiyin FC. The Brazilian who has played for several teams in Brazil first featured for Chennaiyin in 2016.

He returned ahead of the 2018-19 season and was with the club till the end of the 2020-21 season. He is a commanding presence in the backline, and his experience and leadership hold him in good stead against most opposition teams.

Greg Stewart

A freshly crowned Scottish Premiership champion, Greg Stewart has completed a free transfer to Jamshedpur FC, after spending 2 seasons at Rangers. The 31-year-old creative midfielder started his career in the second tier of Scottish football with Cowdenbeath and has featured for Dundee FC, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, and Birmingham City over a span of 7 years.

With the inclusion of the experienced Scot, the Red Miners have assembled a fierce attacking unit for the upcoming season.

Pronay Halder

Jamshedpur FC have acquired Pronay Halder on loan from ATK Mohun Bagan for the upcoming season. The defensive midfielder has previously played for FC Goa and Mumbai City FC in the Hero Indian Super League. He made 31 tackles, 16 interceptions, and grabbed 1 assist in the limited time he featured for last season.

He adds an aggressive and industrious twist to the Red Miners’ midfield, being known for his robust challenges and hefty tackles.

Seiminlen Doungel

Seiminlen Doungel has signed for Jamshedpur FC, after impressing while on loan with the Red Miners in the latter half of 2020-21. A product of the JCT academy, he has featured for teams like East Bengal, Bengaluru FC, NorthEast United FC, Shillong Lajong FC, and FC Goa in the top tier of Indian football.

He is an energetic presence on the flanks and his speed, finishing, and work rate are going to be of great value for Jamshedpur FC in an intense 2021-22 season.

PC Laldinpuia

Jamshedpur FC have roped in the young Mizo defender from I-League club Aizawl FC. He has featured for the Mizoram state team in the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Santosh Trophy.

Aizawl FC acquired his services ahead of the 2020-21 season, and he played every game for the former I-League champions in the season, scoring a goal in the process. His ability to play in every position across the backline would be of great benefit to Owen Coyle.

Komal Thatal

After 4 seasons in Kolkata, Komal Thatal has sealed a move to Jamshedpur FC. His flair in attack and his blistering pace was initially spotted at the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The winger leaves ATK Mohun Bagan having made 20 appearances in the Hero ISL.

He would be looking to secure more game time at Jamshedpur, and his trickery could provide the side a unique threat in attack.

Anas Edathodika

The veteran center-back has returned to Jamshedpur after his first stint back in 2017-18. Anas possesses a wealth of experience, having played for Mumbai FC, Pune FC, Delhi Dynamos, Mohun Bagan, and Kerala Blasters FC since his debut in 2007.

He’ll be providing depth to the Jamshedpur defence, with his composure and leadership on the pitch being valuable assets for any squad.

Ritwik Das

Jamshedpur FC have signed winger Ritwik Das from fellow Hero Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters ahead of the 2021-22 season. He is a product of the Mohun Bagan academy.

His first major move was to Real Kashmir in 2017, and he made 39 appearances across all competitions for the Snow Leopards, scoring 4 goals and bagging 2 assists. The 24-year-old made 4 appearances for the Blasters last season.

OUTs

Isaac Vanmalsawma

The 25-year-old midfielder has made the move to Odisha FC ahead of the upcoming season. He made 16 appearances last season for the Red Miners, assisting one goal and making 25 tackles. He spent his formative years at the AIFF Elite Academy, after which he joined Shillong Lajong in 2014.

He was picked up in the draft by Pune City FC ahead of the 2017-18 season, for whom he made 12 appearances before moving to Chennaiyin FC in the 2018-19 season.

Aniket Jadhav

The skillful forward has moved to Hyderabad FC for the 2021-22 season. He spearheaded the Indian attack at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2017 and spent the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons with the Indian Arrows in the I-League before joining Jamshedpur ahead of the 2019-20 season.

He scored one goal in 14 appearances last season and would be looking to improve his scoring tally in the upcoming season. The Nizams would be banking on Jadhav to threaten opposing defences with his pace and dribbling ability.

Joyner Lourenco

The 30-year-old defender has been snapped up by SC East Bengal for the upcoming season. He made 15 appearances for the Red Miners across two seasons, registering one assist.

He started his senior career with Sporting Clube de Goa and also featured for Bengaluru FC and Mumbai City FC in the Hero Indian Super League, before moving to Jamshedpur at the start of the 2019-20 season.

William Lalnunfela

The Mizo forward has penned a deal with Northeast United FC, ending a one-year spell at the Red Miners. He made his debut with Aizawl FC in the I-League in 2015 and was a part of the I-League winning squad in 2016-17. He registered one assist in the 11 appearances he made for Jamshedpur in the 2020-21 season.

RELEASED

Aitor Monroy

Aitor Monroy has left Jamshedpur FC after 2 seasons with the club. The 33-year-old made 37 appearances across both seasons, and was an influential figure in midfield, expertly building attacks from deep within his own half.

The Spaniard was ever-present in and around both boxes last season, bagging 6 assists while also registering 111 tackles and 27 blocks. The Red Miners are set to miss out on Monroy’s brilliant deliveries at set-pieces, along with his ability to expertly shield the backline.

Stephen Eze

Centre-back Stephen Eze has parted ways with the club after a remarkable campaign. Owen Coyle laid immense trust in the Nigerian’s abilities, as he played every game in the 2020-21 season. He made 64 tackles, 60 interceptions, 118 clearances, and 35 blocks while scoring 4 goals for the Men of Steel.

His partnership with Peter Hartley was instrumental in their side keeping 8 clean sheets throughout the season. The aerial prowess and brute strength he brought to the table, would be a big miss for Owen Coyle.

David Grande

Grande joined Jamshedpur FC in the January window of 2019-20 and managed 14 appearances in the 18 months that he spent with the Men of Steel. He scored 3 goals in the second half of the 2020-21 season, easing the burden of scoring on Nerijus Valskis.

The striker has previously featured for Albacete, Getafe CF B, Algeciras CF, CD Lealtad, Villarrubia CF and Unionistas de Salamanca.

Nick Fitzgerald

The Aussie winger hasn’t been retained by the club ahead of the 2021-22 season. A two-time A-League champion, Fitzgerald has spent most of his career in Australia, having played for teams such as Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City, Central Coast Mariners, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Newcastle Jets.

He had an underwhelming 2020-21 season at Jamshedpur, failing to score or assist in 8 appearances.

Jamshedpur FC have signed several big names in this window, making them one of the top contenders this season. The likes of Jordan Murray, Ishan Pandita, and Eli Sabiá are accustomed to Indian conditions, and that could be a massive advantage heading into Hero ISL 2021-22. The loss of Aitor Monroy, one of their most important players in the recent past, might be a slight miss, but with Alex Lima and Mobashir Rahman retained for the upcoming season, they look comfortable in that department.