Experienced and one of the favourites of Red & Gold Fans’ Harmanjot Singh Khabra is acquired on free transfer along with Edwin Sydney Vanspaul and Mandar Rao Desai. Vanspaul joins the Red & Gold brigade on a two-year contract.
Left-back Mandar, who has won a Hero ISL Winners’ Shield with FC Goa, and two League Winners’ Shields and a Hero ISL title with Mumbai City FC, said “It feels great to join East Bengal. It’s a new challenge for me and I want to contribute to the team in whatever capacity is required of me. Coach Carles is a fine tactician and wonderful human being. I am glad to get another opportunity of playing under him. I can’t wait to wear the Red & Gold jersey and help the team win.”
Harmanjot Singh Khabr returned to East Bengal Fc after seven years. He had served the Red & Gold Family from 2009 to 2016 earlier. The former East Bengal captain won two Federation Cups, one IFA Shield, one Indian Super Cup and seven consecutive CFL titles with the heritage club during the said period. In the Hero ISL, Khabra has played 128 matches, winning the title with Chennaiyin FC (2015) and Bengaluru FC (2018-19), and finishing runners-up with Kerala Blasters FC in 2021-22.
Speaking about his reunion with East Bengal, a nostalgic Khabra said, “I am incredibly excited to return home. This club has given me so much and here’s a chance for me to relive all of that! I can’t wait to give my 100% in front of our fans. I am especially looking forward to the derby, a game that always gave us an extra push in the past. There’s also a sense of excitement to be working with Coach Carles again, who has played a big role in making me a better player.”
Vanspaul, whose four-year stint with Chennaiyin FC ended last month, is all set to start a new chapter in his career with Emami East Bengal. The Tamil Nadu-born footballer was instrumental in Chennai City FC’s only Hero I-League triumph in 2018-19 before making his foray into the Hero ISL the following season. Vanspaul played a massive part in helping CFC finish runners-up in the 2019-20 Hero ISL, switching seamlessly from a full-back role to a midfield role. In 71 Hero ISL appearances so far, the 30-year-old has registered 1 goal, 3 assists, 1,811 passes, 101 interceptions and 97 clearances.
On joining Emami East Bengal, Vanspaul said, “We all know about Kolkata’s football heritage and legacy. So, for me, joining an iconic club like East Bengal is a huge deal. Whenever I’ve played against East Bengal in the past, I’ve always marveled at the club’s spectacular fan base. I want to be a part of this culture now. I can’t wait to play under Coach Carles and reunite with my good friend Nandha.
