Football: Biggest player transfers ahead of the 2025-26 Indian Super League season
Punjab, Kerala, Mohun Bagan make marquee acquisitions
Before we dive into the 2025-26 Indian Super League in December this year, the Indian Super Cup is set to take centre stage later this month, with the Round of 16 scheduled to get underway on Saturday, October 25.
The Super Cup will also serve as crucial preparation for the upcoming season, with teams likely to use the tournament to bed in newcomers and returning players in an attempt to ensure they hit the ground running when the league kicks off on December 11.
During the offseason, Punjab FC have been one of the most active teams in the market, having secured the signings of three overseas players, including Dani Ramirez, Samir Zeljkovi and Effiong Nsungusi, all of whom have been handed one-year deals.
Ramirez came through the Real Madrid academy as a youth before moving to Poland, where he won the Ekstraklasa title with Lech Poznan in 2022. The 33-year-old is expected to replace Ezequiel Vidal, who joined Indonesian Super League outfit PSIM Yogyakarta.
Last week, Kerala Blasters made a massive signing, securing the services of Tiago Alves. The Portuguese attacker last played in the J1 League for Tokyo Verde, and he also spent time in the Brasileiro with Botafogo between 2024 and the start of this year.
Other notable transfers over the past few weeks include Mohun Bagan securing the signature of highly rated centre-back Sahil Inamdar from Geno FC, while Ashique Kuruniyan has penned a new long-term deal with Bengaluru FC upon returning from a three-year spell with MBSG.
Headline ISL departures over the summer
While there have been several headline arrivals in the Indian Super League over the past few weeks, many of them have been necessary after we saw mass departures while the league’s future remained in doubt.
NorthEast United lost their captain Nestor Albiach over the summer, as well as Hamza Regraui and Mohammed Ali Bemammer, all on free transfers. Of their locally based players, Mirshad Michu, Phalguni Singh and Shighil Nambrath Shaji were released.
Punjab’s market activity was heavily influenced by the departure of rising star Abhishek Singh Tekcham, who was on the radar of Mohun Bagan, FC Goa and East Bengal. He has now joined MBSG and is being touted as a possible successor to captain Subhasish Bose.
Mumbai City saw the most turnover this summer, with as many as 14 players being released after their contracts expired. The Islanders have only brought in two new faces in Mark Zothanpuia from Aizawl FC and Lalnuntluanga Bawitlung from Sreenidi Deccan FC.
