Bengaluru FC sign Dutch centre-back Menno Koch ahead of ISL 2026-27
Bengaluru FC have completed the signing of Dutch centre-back Menno Koch ahead of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season, Khel Now can exclusively reveal. The 32-year-old arrives as a free agent after his contract with Sarpsborg 08 expired in June and becomes the Blues’ fifth and final foreign signing of the window.
Koch agreed to move outside Europe for the first time in his career, a source tracking the transfer told Khel Now: “Menno Koch, who was playing for Sarpsborg 08 in Norway’s top-tier Eliteserien last season, has agreed to ply his trade outside Europe for the first time in his career and picked Bengaluru FC as his next destination.” Clubs are finalising squads ahead of the October 10 start, and the AIFF confirmed on August 19 that the season will proceed with 13 clubs after Diamond Harbour FC missed the final deadline to clear their participation fee.
Koch began his development at RKSV Heeze before coming through PSV Eindhoven’s academy and made his professional debut for Jong PSV in 2013. He made one senior appearance for PSV and had loan spells at NAC Breda and FC Utrecht that provided him regular first-team minutes. He was part of PSV’s squad that won the Eredivisie in 2014-15.
The NAC Breda loan was made permanent in 2017 and Koch spent two seasons there before moving to Belgian side KAS Eupen in 2019, where he made 40 league appearances across two campaigns. His time in Belgium established him as a consistent presence at the back before his transfer to Bulgaria.
Koch joined CSKA Sofia in 2021, staying three and a half seasons and making 62 league appearances while scoring six goals. He captained CSKA Sofia, won the Bulgarian Cup in 2021 and featured in the UEFA Conference League group stage against opponents including AS Roma and Bodø/Glimt. He left CSKA in 2024 for Sarpsborg 08 and made 54 league appearances across the 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons before his contract expired in June.
Internationally, Koch represented the Netherlands from U16 through to U20 and was part of the U17 side that won the European Championship, though he did not earn a senior cap. Standing at 1.95m (6ft 5in), he is primarily a centre-back who can also operate at right-back, and his career has seen him mark forwards such as Robin van Persie, Frenkie de Jong, Luuk de Jong, Dušan Tadić, Donny van de Beek and Kasper Dolberg.
Bengaluru arrive into the 2026-27 campaign with a rebuilt squad under Pep Muñoz, who took charge midway through last season and guided the Blues to fourth; this is his first window with a full pre-season. Koch joins earlier overseas signings Borja Martínez (from AD Alcorcón, one-year deal), Sandro Embalo (from PSBS Biak Numfor, season-long), Manuel de Iriondo (33, from Krasava ENY) and Mihailo Perović (from Persebaya Surabaya). On continuity, captain Sunil Chhetri has extended for another year and young defender Harsh Palande has signed a new deal running to 2029, while Rahul Bheke has moved to Mohun Bagan SG, Namgyal Bhutia to Chennaiyin FC and the club have parted ways with Braian Sánchez and Sirojiddin Kuziev.
With Koch added, Bengaluru have completed their foreign recruitment for the window; ISL rules allow clubs to register six foreign players with a maximum of four in the playing XI, and the Blues have chosen to register five. The signing finalises Bengaluru’s overseas business ahead of the season that begins on October 10 with 13 clubs participating.