Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Mumbai City announced the signing of veteran goalkeeper TP Rehenesh.

Rehenesh Thumbirumbu Paramba, popularly known as TP Rehenesh, joins the reigning ISL Cup winners on a three-year contract that will run until the end of the 2027 season.

The 31-year-old shot-stopper has experience spanning more than a decade, having played in various competitions within Indian football. Throughout his illustrious career, he has made 204 appearances across domestic competitions in India and kept 59 clean sheets in the process.

Having played with some of the top teams in India, the custodian went on to win the ISL League Winners’ Shield with Jamshedpur FC in the 2021–22 season. The Kerala native was a vital cog for the Men of Steel, keeping six clean sheets in 20 appearances that season.

With his impressive shot-stopping and distribution abilities, Rehenesh made a total of 61 saves in the 2023–24 ISL season. Beyond these attributes, Rehenesh is also well known for his leadership skills, strong communication, and his ability to guide the backline from his goal during matches. As TP Rehenesh joins the ranks, the Islanders will bolster their current goalkeeping unit with his wealth of experience and quality.

TP Rehenesh said:

“Joining Mumbai City FC is a matter of pride for me. Mumbai City FC is one of the most consistent teams in India, and I am excited to begin my new journey with the club. The team has been exceptional in recent years, winning trophies and performing at the highest level. I am thrilled to be working with such a talented squad. I am eager to contribute to the team and hope to help them win more silverware in the upcoming seasons.”

Petr Kratky said:

“TP Rehenesh is one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the country, and we are happy that he decided to join us. His character and personality both on and off the field will be a great addition to the squad, along with his ability to make match-winning saves and protect the goal will always be a great asset to the team. I look forward to having him with the club and working with him.”

Chennaiyin FC sign Gurkirat Singh on a two-year deal

Indian Super League (ISL) club Chennaiyin FC secured the services of talented young forward Gurkirat Singh as their eighth signing for the upcoming 2024–25 season.

The 20-year-old from Punjab is known for his ability to operate on the left side of the field and contribute heavily to the attack. He has joined the Marina Machans from Mumbai City FC on a two-year deal that will keep him in the club till 2026.

Gurkirat Singh made his ISL debut with Mumbai City FC, and he was also part of the team that lifted the ISL League Shield and ISL title in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, respectively.

“We wanted to add power and pace to our forward line, and Gurkirat was someone we were keeping an eye on. He was a handful when he played against us in the Super Cup, and his goalscoring record for the India U20s speaks for itself,” head coach Coyle said.

Having played regularly for an ISL club, the talented footballer has a great understanding of the level required to win in the league and is expected to play a crucial role with his sublime skills at Chennaiyin FC.

“To be honest, I love Owen Coyle as a coach. He’s a brilliant coach, and I want to play under him,” Gurkirat Singh expressed excitement about joining Chennaiyin FC.

Gurkirat Singh has played a total of 67 matches in his career, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

The forward began his career with the Indian Arrows to hone his skills before moving to Mumbai City FC to make a mark in the league with his remarkable performances.

East Bengal FC rope in David Lalhlansanga on a multi-year deal

Indian Super League (ISL) side East Bengal FC bolstered their offensive line with promising India national team striker David Lalhlansanga, who penned a three-year contract with the club on Tuesday.

One of the most prolific young strikers in India, Lalhlansanga was the top scorer in last year’s Calcutta Football League (CFL) and Durand Cup and also played a pivotal role in Mohammedan Sporting Club’s I-League triumph.

Welcoming Lalhlansanga to the East Bengal FC family, Mr Vibhash Vardhan Agarwal said, “David has immense potential to develop into one of India’s most lethal strikers. He has already made it to the national team, and we hope he’ll achieve even greater success with us.”

East Bengal FC Head Coach Carles Cuadrat said, “David is one of our Indian recruits whom we had been trying hard to sign for a long time. He was the leading scorer in the Durand Cup and the CFL, which grabbed my attention. From that moment (on), he became a target for our future plans. I am extremely happy to welcome a gem like him.”

Hailing from Mizoram, Lalhlansanga rose through Aizawl FC’s youth ranks before being promoted to Aizawl’s first team in the 2019–20 season. After spending three seasons with the Mizoram capital side, Lalhlansanga moved to Mohammedan Sporting Club in 2023. The 22-year-old made an immediate impact in the Durand Cup, winning the Golden Boot award with six goals and one assist in just three matches, including four goals in a group-stage match against Jamshedpur FC.

He continued his rich vein of form through the remainder of the season as he scored an astonishing 21 goals to propel Mohammedan SC to the CFL title and later played a crucial part in the Black & White brigade’s I-League triumph with five goals and two assists.

Lalhlansanga’s consistency recently earned him a senior national team call-up. He was part of both India squads that faced Kuwait and Qatar in Round 2 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers earlier this month.

Buzzing with excitement, Lalhlansanga said, “East Bengal FC is a big club with millions of fans spread across India. I love playing in front of passionate fans. I’ve already spent some time with Mahesh (Singh Naorem), Nandhakumar (Sekar), and Lalchungnunga in the India camp. They are very helpful, and (they) always motivate me to get better. I want to give my best for this club. Joy East Bengal!”

Lara Sharma completes move from Bengaluru FC to FC Goa

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit FC Goa acquired the services of goalkeeper Lara Sharma on a permanent transfer from Bengaluru FC for an undisclosed fee, the club announced on Tuesday through its social media outlets.

The 24-year-old has inked a multi-year deal with the club, committing his future to the Gaurs beyond the upcoming 2024–25 season.

Sharma, a product of the esteemed Tata Football Academy, began his professional career with the Indian Arrows in 2017. He later played for ATK FC’s Reserves team before joining Bengaluru FC in 2020. At the start of the 2021–22 season, when the Blues’ Reserves participated in the Durand Cup, he was the first-choice goalkeeper and played a key role in their run-up to the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions FC Goa on penalties.

The same season saw him make his earliest appearances for the Bengaluru FC First team as well. Sharma kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 win against Chennaiyin FC, which was his ISL debut as well, before keeping another clean sheet in a 1-0 win over East Bengal FC.

Most recently, the shot-stopper was on loan at Kerala Blasters FC, where he played a handy role in securing their playoff spot in the 2023–24 season, towards the end of their league campaign.

Expressing his excitement about joining FC Goa, Lara Sharma said, “I am thrilled to be part of FC Goa. The club has a fantastic reputation for its style of play and passionate fan base, and I can’t wait to start this new chapter of my career with the team.

Sharma said, “Everyone I talked to praised the professional football culture at the club, so I had no hesitation in signing. I’m also eager to work with Coach Manolo (Marquez), who has been instrumental in developing many young players.”

“During every break, I aim to win the upcoming season and return home with pride. But this time, it feels even more significant. We have a strong squad that can show where FC Goa belongs and what we deserve to achieve. As long as I’m part of FC Goa, this mindset will remain unchanged,” he added.

Head Coach Manolo Marquez welcomed the new signing, saying, “I am very happy to welcome Lara (Sharma) to FC Goa. He is a promising young goalkeeper with many excellent qualities and is poised to become one of India’s top goalkeepers in the coming years.”

“He performs well in goal, stays composed when playing with his feet outside the box, and shows courage in all his actions—all of them essential traits for our style of play,” he concluded.

Kerala Blasters FC acquire services of talented defender Likmabam Rakesh

Indian Super League (ISL) club Kerala Blasters FC announced the signing of defender Likmabam Rakesh. The highly promising left-back puts pen to paper on a three-year contract that will see him don the Blasters outfit until 2027.

The 21-year-old, born in Manipur, began his professional career with NEROCA FC. In 2018, he joined the Bengaluru FC Academy and went on to represent their U16, U18, and Reserve teams in various age-group tournaments, including the prestigious Reliance Foundation Development League. With his consistency, maturity, and promise on display throughout his youth career, it was not long before Neroca FC came calling, as he returned to the club where he started his professional career in 2022.

Since then, Rakesh has made over 40 appearances for Neroca FC in the I-League, Durand Cup, and Super Cup Qualifiers. While the majority of his performances have come in his usual left-back position, the young defender can even slot in as a centre-back.

Karolis Skinkys, Sporting Director, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Likmabam Rakesh to Kerala Blasters FC. This season, he has shown a lot of potential, allowing us to believe that he can be a valuable player for us in the future. At this moment, Rakesh and our attention is on finding the best way forward for his development.”

The talented left-back has increasingly earned a reputation for his lung-busting runs up and down the flank, determination, and spirit, all of which fans can look forward to seeing in action when the new season kicks off.

Likmabam Rakesh becomes the club’s second signing of the summer, following goalkeeper Som Kumar, who was announced last week.

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Kerala Blasters FCEast Bengal FCFC GoaMumbai City FCChennaiyin FC2023-2024 Lara SharmaTP ReheneshGurkirat Singh