Jamshedpur FC have successfully signed Seiminlen Doungel on a permanent deal after his solid performances in the second half of the 2020-21 Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) season, including a Hero-of-the-match award in 8 appearances with the club. The Manipur-born winger will ply his trade for Jamshedpur FC till May 2024, having signed a 3-year contract with the Jharkhand-based side. 

The 27-year-old was delighted after the deal. “Jamshedpur FC have the ambition to do well in the [Hero] ISL. The gaffer [Owen Coyle] is extremely committed to qualifying for the play-offs [semis] and try to win the league for the first time. I want to create history with the club. I am glad to continue as I had the coach’s faith in me and I want to play as much as I can to contribute to help the club achieve silverware,” he said.

Fondly known as Len, the winger, who has also represented the Indian national team, brings with him a trophy-winning pedigree, having previously won the Hero I-League in 2015-16 and Federation Cup in 2012 and 2017. He was a runner-up in the AFC Cup in 2016 and also played an important role in the FC Goa team that finished top of the league in the 2019-20 Hero ISL season, thereby helping them become the League Shield Winners.

Head coach Coyle was extremely delighted to have Len in his ranks. “I think everyone will agree that Len impressed and improved the team when he joined Jamshedpur. He is fast and knows is a good finisher too – two very important qualities for a winger. He is one of the top Indian players in the [Hero] ISL and I am glad he’s here to stay,” he said.

Len brings a wealth of experience to the squad. The 27-year-old has made 156 club appearances in his career so far across various teams like East Bengal, Bengaluru FC, NorthEast United FC, Shillong Lajong and FC Goa, including 8 appearances with Jamshedpur FC in the previous season on loan from FC Goa. He is also one of four Indian players to have a hat-trick to his name in the Hero ISL.

With the 2021-22 season poised to begin soon, Coyle along with his technical staff has been hard at work the entire summer and during the transfer window to bring in the right talent to complement the club’s objectives. 

The gaffer said, “We are aiming to build a squad that is capable to help us to the play-offs [semis] and go the distance as well. Jamshedpur missed out by the narrowest of margins last season, also due to some factors outside our control too. But I know my players – this is a bunch of highly motivated individuals who will play with their hearts on their sleeves and are committed to the cause of bringing joy and silverware for our fans.”