ISL 2026-27: Foreign rosters confirmed as clubs finalise squads ahead of October 10 restart
Foreign player contingents for all Indian Super League clubs have been finalised ahead of the 2026-27 season, which is scheduled to begin on October 10, 2026, and will return to a 13-team home-and-away format.
The 2025-26 campaign had been delayed to February 2026 after the expiration of the commercial rights agreement with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) and a subsequent deadlock over a new commercial partner or broadcaster, leaving several overseas players to leave their clubs to preserve game time and match fitness, including Alaaeddine Ajaraie, Iker Guarrotxena and Hugo Boumous. Some clubs retained remaining foreigners or signed new short-term deals through the end of 2026; ahead of the new season teams have reshaped their overseas lines, with new players and some coaching changes expected to alter tactical options.
Bengaluru FC have added Manuel de Iriondo, Mihailo Perović, Menno Koch, Sandro Sakho and Borja Martínez to their foreign contingent under head coach Pep Muñoz; the club skipped this year’s Durand Cup as it assembles those overseas signings. Chennaiyin FC have brought in Madih Talal, Nuno Reis, Emmanuel Imanishimwe and Nikola Stojanović to refresh their foreign options after a disappointing 2026 campaign, providing manager Clifford Miranda with experienced defensive and midfield choices.
SC Delhi, competing under their new identity after last season, have recruited Rodriguinho, David Richard Ndayishimiye, Duván Viáfara, Juan Pena and Nduka Junior as foreign reinforcements under head coach Tomasz Tchórz. Churchill Brothers announced Colombian midfielder Sebastián Gutiérrez as their first foreign signing and stand to receive an immediate squad base following Tata Steel’s agreement to transfer Jamshedpur FC’s ownership and ISL sporting licence to Churchill Brothers — a package that includes the contracts of 12 Jamshedpur FC players and two coaches from September, subject to AIFF approval.
East Bengal FC have signed six overseas players — Chris Ikonomidis, Diego Živulić, Effiong Nsungusi, Dani Ramírez, Nacho Monsalve and Mohammed Rashid — after winning the Durand Cup 2026 under new head coach Antonio López Habas. FC Goa, under promoted head coach Gouramangi Singh, released Dejan Dražić and Pol Moreno and brought in Franchu, Alex Vallejo, Alex Zelaya and Christian ‘Chiki’ Isabel as their foreign additions for the coming season.
Mohun Bagan SG have reshaped their foreign roster by signing Dejan Dražić from FC Goa, Miguel Figueira from East Bengal FC and Samir Zeljković from Punjab FC while retaining Jamie Maclaren and Alberto Rodríguez and adding Lee Erwin; the Mariners began pre-season by finishing runners-up in the Durand Cup 2026 under new head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis. Northeast United have re-signed Alaaeddine Ajaraie after his loan at Persija Jakarta and added Nikola Ninković, Antonio Moyano, Eneko Satrústegui and Ethyan González. Kerala Blasters currently list only one overseas player, 34-year-old Uruguayan Adrián Luna, as they continue recruitment work.
Mumbai City FC have added Sergio Llamas, Carlos Delgado, Wilmar Jordán Gil and Leandro Otormín and appointed 57-year-old Spaniard Manolo Márquez as head coach. Punjab FC signed Raphaël Messi Bouli, Patrick Bahanack and Alfred Planas with Pavlos Dermitzakis as their new coach, while Odisha FC retain Giorgi Aburjania, Stephen Eze and Manu Molina but are yet to make further overseas additions. Inter Kashi have not signed any foreign players ahead of their ISL debut, opting to build a squad heavy on Indian personnel.
Among the clubs covered, East Bengal currently field the largest foreign contingent with six players, Inter Kashi have yet to register an overseas signing and Kerala Blasters list only one foreign player; Churchill Brothers’ preparations for an ISL return are linked to Tata Steel’s transfer of Jamshedpur FC’s ownership and ISL sporting licence to the Goan club, subject to AIFF approval, as teams finalise squads ahead of the October 10, 2026 season opener.