East Bengal finalise squad for 2026-27 Indian Super League season
East Bengal completed their squad for the 2026-27 Indian Super League season on October 8, 2026, entering the campaign as India’s defending champions.
The Red and Golden Brigade ended a 22-year wait for a national league title by winning the 2025-26 ISL at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan and also defeated arch-rivals Mohun Bagan 4-1 in the Durand Cup Final. After Oscar Bruzon parted ways with the club, they appointed former Mohun Bagan coach Antonio Lopez Habas; the Spaniard has extensive experience coaching in India and is regarded as one of the most successful coaches in ISL history.
On the domestic transfer front, East Bengal signed Narender Gahlot, Rohit Danu and Sandip Mandi from Inter Kashi, while Raynier Fernandes and Mark Zo arrived from Jamshedpur FC. The club’s Indian arrivals also include Phurba Lachenpa from Mumbai City, Hardik Bhat, Asif Khan and Rohit Kumar.
Their foreign recruitment comprises Spaniard Nacho Monsalve, Nigerian Nsungusi Effiong, Greek Chris Ikonomidis, Croatian Diego Živulić, Dani Ramirez, Polish Łukasz Zwoliński and Ivorian Ake Loba.
The squad by position is listed as follows: Goalkeepers: Gourab Shaw, Phurba Tempa Lachenpa, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. Defenders: Anwar Ali, Chaku Mandi, Hardik Bhatt, Ignacio Monsalve Vicente, Jay Gupta, Lalchungnunga, Martand Raina, Mohamad Rakip, Narender Gahlot, Sandip Mandi. Midfielders: Bipin Singh Thounaojam, Boris Singh Thangjam, Christopher James Ikonomidis, Daniel Ramirez Fernandez, Danish Farooq, Diego Zivulic, Edmund Lalrindika, Guite Vanlalpeka, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lalramsanga, Mohammed Asif Khan, Mohammed Bassim Ahmed Rashid, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Raynier Raymond Fernandes, Rohit Kumar, Souvik Alok Chakrabarti, Vishnu Puthiya Valappill. Forwards: Ake Arnaud Loba, David Lalhlansanga, Jesin TK Thonikkara, Lukasz Zwolinski, Nsungusi Effiong, Rohit Danu. Head Coach: Antonio Lopez Habas.
Broadcast details for the MG Indian Super League indicate the competition starts October 10, with coverage live on YouTubeIndia, SonySportsNetwk and SonyLIV.
The Torchbearers will play their ISL home matches at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata.
East Bengal are scheduled to host Iraqi side Al Shorta at home in their second AFC Champions League 2 group fixture; their first three ISL matches are away to Churchill Brothers, Inter Kashi and Chennaiyin FC before their first home game of the season against SC Delhi.