Indian football is currently marred by controversies about the issues raised by former Indian national team head coach Igor Stimac about the commitment of the All India Football Federation.
While the issues continue to plague the national team which still awaits the appointment of a new head coach, several Indian Super League clubs are closing deals of their desired player incomings for the summer transfer window.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant has appointed a new head coach with former ATK manager Jose Molina joining the 2023-24 ISL League Shield Winners. On the other side of Kolkata, East Bengal has strengthened with a few high-profile signings while Mohammedan is also assembling a talented squad ahead of their ISL debut in the upcoming season.
Let’s check out the top five signings made by the ISL clubs involving overseas players so far in the transfer window:
#4 Bengaluru ropes in Jorge Pereyra Diaz
Jorge Pereyra Diaz will be turning out in a different shade of blue next season as the striker has swapped the hustle and bustle of Mumbai for the hustle and bustle of Karnataka’s capital city, Bengaluru.
The Argentine striker has joined the Blues on a three-year contract keeping him at the club till the end of the 2025-26 season. Scoring 29 goals in 58 ISL appearances across three seasons has kept Diaz in good stead as he helped Mumbai City win the 2022-23 ISL League Winners’ Shield and the 2023-24 ISL Cup by scoring 21 goals and providing 6 assists for the Islanders.
The Blues also roped in Alberto Noguera from Mumbai City as the Spaniard will now be filling the boots of Javi Hernandez who ended his second stint with Bengaluru. Rahul Bheke has also returned to the club and the additions of Pedro Capo, Mohamed Salah, and Lalthuammawia Ralte add further depth to the Blues squad.
#3 Dimitrios Diamantakos joins East Bengal
Diamantakos had a great season with the Kerala Blasters
Carles Cuadrat won his first trophy as the head coach of East Bengal as the Red and Golds lifted the 2024 Super Cup and would be aiming to build on that in the upcoming season as well. The signing of 2023-24 ISL Golden Boot winner Dimitrios Diamantakos signals that the club means business and is ready to challenge for the playoff positions in the upcoming season.
The Olympiacos youth academy product has put pen to paper for a two-year deal that will last till the end of the 2025-26 season. Head coach Cuadrat has already heaped huge praise on the club’s star acquisition of the window even revealing that the Greek striker rejected offers from other ISL clubs including a contract extension offer by Kerala Blasters.
Cuadrat said,
“Diamantakos’ adaptation to India and the ISL has been remarkable and his inclusion will massively bolster our attack. We had a fruitful conversation with him, which convinced him to join us. He had offers from various clubs, but he believed in our project and chose to join Emami East Bengal.”
During the 2023-24 ISL season, Diamantakos scored 13 goals and provided 3 assists bagging the Golden Boot award in only 17 league appearances. The 31-year old also scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist in 3 Super Cup appearances.
The striker is delighted at the move and said,
“Everyone knows that East Bengal has one of the greatest fan bases in Asia. I can’t wait to play in front of them. I will do my best to help my team achieve our goals and bring joy to our supporters. See you in Kolkata!”
Apart from Diamantakos, East Bengal has also added the leading assist provider of the 2023-24 ISL season, Madih Talal to the squad. The arrival of Mark Zothanpuia and David Lalhlansanga apart from the contract extension of Hijazi Maher keeps the club in good stead as they begin their AFC Champions League Two campaign on 14th August.
#2 Former Goa forward Noah Sadaoui joins Kerala Blasters
Kerala Blasters will be starting a new era after the departure of Ivan Vukomanovic as Mikael Stahre takes charge of the Tuskers ahead of the 2024-25 season. The new head coach has had a dream start to the transfer window as the Kochi-based club roped in Noah Sadaoui on a two-year contract that will last till the end of the 2025-26 season.
Sadaoui has had an esteemed football career spanning across various continents with the semi-final and final appearances of the 2021 African Nations Championship being the pinnacle of his achievements as he helped Morocco lift the title.
In 40 ISL appearances for Goa, Noah has scored 19 goals and provided 14 assists taking the league by storm since his arrival in India. Kerala Blasters Sporting Director Karolis Skinkys ranks Sadaoui as one of the best players in the league and welcomed him to the club.
Skinkys said,
“I’m very happy Noah joined us to help reach our targets. Obviously we expect him to be one of most important players in our team and one of best players in the league like he was during the last two ISL seasons. I really appreciate his desire to join Kerala Blasters and feel that this association can be very successful.”
The experienced forward also showed excitement while putting pen to paper and reminisced of his appearances in Kochi as a Goa player and cited his desire to play in front of the Kochi crowd once again.
Sadaoui said,
“I am really excited to join Kerala Blasters and be part of such a passionate club. The energy and support from the KBFC fans is simply incredible, and I cannot wait to play in front of them. I’m looking forward to contributing to the club’ success and being part of this exciting journey. Together, we can achieve great things and make our mark this season.”
#1 Odisha signs Hugo Boumous
Hugo Boumous has previously played under Sergio Lobera at two different ISL clubs
Hugo Boumous has joined his fourth Indian club after being shunned out of the plans for the 2023-24 ISL season by former Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Antonio Lopez Habas. The 28-year old has signed a three-year contract with the Juggernauts that runs till the end of the 2026-27 season.
After turning out for Goa under Sergio Lobera for two and a half seasons, Boumous joined Lobera at Mumbai City ahead of the 2020-21 ISL season. The creative midfielder helped the Islanders win an unprecedented double of the ISL League WInners’ Shield and the ISL trophy by scoring 3 goals and assisting 9 goals in 16 appearances.
Then, Mohun Bagan Super Giant paid a substantial amount for the French-Moroccan attacking midfielder but failed to integrate him properly into the squad with Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Dimitrios Petratos, and Joni Kauko available to play in a similar position on the pitch.
Lobera praised his former mentee who has scored 37 goals and provided 49 assists in 133 matches in Indian football over the last seven years.
The Odisha head coach said,
“In my opinion, Boumous is the best player in the league (ISL) in his position. We know each other very well and we know that we need each other to be successful, I hope we can be successful together again. I am delighted that he has decided to join us.”
The midfielder has won almost every team trophy in Indian football in the last few years apart from bagging the ISL Golden Ball as a personal honor in the 2019-20 ISL season. The midfielder would now be reuniting with Lobera along with former teammates Ahmed Jahouh, Mourtada Fall, and Amey Ranawade.
Boumous said,
“I am excited to join Odisha FC for the next 3 seasons. A growing club with an ambitious project where I will look to bring value to the team. I’m happy to reunite with Sergio Lobera, a coach with whom I had a lot of success in the past. Looking forward to meeting my teammates and everyone in Odisha to get ready for the new season.”