Bengaluru signs former Hyderabad forward Rohit Danu
Bengaluru has signed former AIFF Elite Academy graduate and Hyderabad forward Rohit Danu ahead of the 2023-24 Indian Super League season.
The 20-year old forward has put pen to paper on a three-year contract keeping him at the club till the end of the 2025-26 season.
Danu said,
“I’m really excited to join Bengaluru FC because it presents an opportunity to challenge myself. This is a club that has been very consistent over the years, and I am eager to learn as much as I can from the senior players here and try my best to contribute.”
The former Hyderabad forward also glowingly talked about the fans of the club and the atmosphere at the infamous Kantaveera Stadium.
He continued,
“I have also heard a lot about the fans and the atmosphere at the stadium. I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates, training with them and stepping out as a BFC player at the Kanteerava.”
Danu came through the AIFF Elite Academy in 2017 under Bibiano Fernandes’ leadership and could have been the youngest player to represent the Indian U17 team but he suffered an ankle injury in the run-up to the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Later, Danu was also in the fray for the 2018 U16 AFC Championship but was once again ruled out of the tournament.
Danu became the youngest goalscorer in the I-League at the age of 16 years whilst representing Indian Arrows and later signed for Hyderabad on a three-year contract after notching 4 goals for the Arrows in the debut season.
Danu had a stop-start debut season with Hyderabad playing 30 minutes divided across five substitute appearances in the 2020-21 ISL season laying a platform for a successful 2021-22 ISL season where the youngster scored 2 goals and provided an assist in 17 appearances helping his side win the coveted ISL trophy.
The Blues’ head coach Simon Grayson talked about Danu’s experience and potential being the perfect combination for the club and Danu’s potential to play for the Indian senior team as well.
He said,
“We’re delighted to bring Rohit on board. For someone so young, he’s got tremendous experience in the Hero ISL at Hyderabad and representing the National Team at various youth levels. We feel he’s going to be an exciting youngster within our ranks, who’s going to learn the ropes from the experienced players we have at the club. He’s a hungry player who wants to make a bright future with us, and potentially for the Senior National Team in the future.”
Bengaluru Director of Football Darren Caldeira also spoke along the lines of the head coach and concluded that Bengaluru will provide Danu with the perfect platform to become a top player.
He concluded,
“Rohit is an exciting young player who has played quite a bit of first-team football already and will be a valuable addition to the squad. I think Bengaluru FC represents the best platform for him to take his game to the next level, and I am sure that our coaches and experienced players will help him achieve his personal targets as well.”
Rohit becomes Bengaluru’s fourth signing of the transfer window after roping in the experienced duo of Slavko Damjanovic and Halicharan Narzary along with young goalkeeper Vikram Singh.