Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Goa on Sunday announced the addition of promising talent Alan Saji to their roster from the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) academy.

Having put pen to paper on a multi-year contract, the 18-year-old will don the iconic orange of the Gaurs during the upcoming 2024–25 season and beyond.

Expressing his excitement about joining the club, Saji said, “Joining FC Goa is a dream come true for me. I’ve always aspired to train and play alongside experienced players, and I am thrilled at the opportunity to learn and grow with them."

“I’m aware that FC Goa have closely followed my career so far, and their belief in my potential made this an easy decision. The club’s style of play is similar to what I’ve been accustomed to at RFYC, making this the perfect environment for me to showcase my abilities and continue developing as a footballer,” he added.

The Kerala lad has been a part of RFYC since the age of 12 when the academy scouted him and brought him on board. His steady progress as a footballer includes playing in several national and international tournaments. Most notably, earlier this year, he was a part of the RFYC squad that competed in the Sanix Cup in Japan, widely regarded as the best youth football tournament in Asia, attracting teams from several countries across the continent.

Saji’s impressive performances earned him a spot in the Sanix Cup Team of the Tournament, and on his return to India, he followed that up with goals in back-to-back matches against Kerala Blasters’ and Dempo SC’s U21 sides in the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL).

Manolo Marquez, FC Goa’s head coach, expressed his enthusiasm about the new signing, saying, “Alan Saji is an exceptional talent with a great future. He is fast, brave, very clever in the box, and has a very good aerial game.”

“He has developed remarkably, and we will give him a great platform to hone his skills further. It is, of course, a step-by-step process, but he has the qualities to be an important player for not just the club but also for India in the years to come,” he noted.

“During his time at RFYC, Alan (Saji) has developed into one of the most exciting talents in the country today,” an RFYC spokesperson said.

“His ability to operate effectively anywhere along the front line is a testament to his versatility and work ethic. We’re proud of Alan and believe FC Goa will provide him with the perfect platform to grow further and take Indian football to new heights,” he further added.

Paulo Retre part ways with the Gaurs

A day earlier, FC Goa announced the departure of Australian midfielder Paulo Retre, who has agreed to leave the club despite having a year left on his contract.

The 31-year-old midfielder joined the Gaurs last season from Sydney FC on a two-year deal. Before moving to India, Retre clinched the A-League title twice, in 2019 and 2020, with his former club.

Retre featured in 23 games across all competitions for FC Goa in the 2023–24 season. In his 18 appearances in the ISL, the midfielder clocked 400 minutes on the pitch, created five chances, won 18 duels, completed 35 recoveries, and averaged 17 passes per game, maintaining an 87% passing accuracy.

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