Football News: ISL Update - East Bengal announces 13 new signings

They announced on August 3 as the Red and Gold Brigade is energised to have new investors onboard. With Stephen Constantine at the helm and Bino George as his assistant, the Torchbearers are moving fast in the transfer market. 

Who are these new players?

Now they've finally landed a powerhouse of talent in the form of 13 new players - Pawan Kumar, Subhashis Roy Chowdhury, Mohammad Rakip, Sarthak Golui, Souvik Chakrabarti, Ankit Mukherjee, Mobashir Rahman, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Wahengbam Angousana Luwang, Aniket Jadhav, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, and finally V.P. Suhair.

 

In contrast to what has been observed, most players on the list have what it takes to play top-tier Indian football. However, two names stand out - Jadhav and Suhair. 

 

The 103-year-old club has made an intelligent decision to buy them because of their record in the Indian Super League (ISL). The former Hyderabad FC forward was a strong force in the then club's title-winning run in the 2021-22 season. 

He played 20 matches, which earned him two goals and three assists. In the meantime, VP Suhair was the central part of the attacking department of NorthEast United FC, which was one of the few memorable aspects of a disappointing season. 

The Palakkad-born player played 19 matches for the Highlanders, securing four goals and two assists. Suhair had a stint at East Bengal in the 2017-18 season because of his injury. 

The 30-year-old has resurfaced and returned more robust, so his presence could be vital for the Red and Gold Brigade next season. The Kolkata giants need to cover sessions on and off the pitch if they want to outdo the top teams in the league. 

How useful will the new signings be for East Bengal?

Although they have turned up late to the team acquisition gig, East Bengal has made mature decisions. Players like Mohammad Rakip, Sarthak Golui, Amarjit Singh, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Aniket Jadhav, and Naorem Mahesh Singh will introduce the flavour of youth; others like Souvik, Subhashis, and Suhair will be needed to maintain composure. 

The youngsters signed by East Bengal have tremendous potential and are not just squad fillers. Although the news sounds pleasing to fans, they will be on their toes considering the record set by the club in the last two seasons.