Odisha FC sign Stephen Eze, Manu Molina, Giorgi Aburjania and Everton Nascimento ahead of 2026–27 ISL season
Odisha FC announced on 26 September 2026 that it had signed four foreign players ahead of the 2026–27 Indian Super League season. The club confirmed Stephen Eze, Manu Molina, Giorgi Aburjania and Everton Nascimento on contracts running until the end of the 2026–27 ISL campaign.
The quartet joins the Kalinga Warriors with the club describing the recruits as providing experience from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Odisha FC stated the signings add quality and depth to the squad and welcomed all four players to the club.
Nigerian centre-back Stephen Eze returns to the ISL after previously representing Jamshedpur FC; the 6’6” defender began his career in Nigeria before moving to Bulgaria, where he played for Lokomotiv Plovdiv and won the Bulgarian Cup in 2019. Eze has also represented the Nigeria national team and said: “I’m very happy to join Odisha FC and excited for this new chapter. I know the quality of the ISL, and I’m ready to give everything for the club. I’m looking forward to working with my teammates and making our supporters proud.”
Spanish midfielder Manu Molina arrives with more than a decade of experience in Spanish football and is a product of the Espanyol and Valencia youth systems. His club résumé includes Espanyol, Huesca, Recreativo, UD Ibiza, Real Zaragoza, Málaga and Eldense, and he was part of the UD Ibiza side that secured promotion to the Segunda División in 2021. Molina commented: “I’m very pleased to join Odisha FC and experience a new footballing culture. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone at the club and contributing with my experience. I’m ready to work hard and help the team achieve its goals.”
Georgian international Giorgi Aburjania brings European and international experience after spells in Georgia, Cyprus, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, representing clubs including Gimnàstic de Tarragona, Sevilla Atlético, FC Twente, Gil Vicente and Hatayspor. He has earned 39 caps for Georgia and said: “I’m very excited to join Odisha FC and take on this new challenge. India is a new experience for me, and I’m looking forward to discovering the league, the city and the passion of the Odisha supporters. I will give my best every day for the team.”
Brazilian forward Everton Nascimento joins after an extended spell in Indonesian football and has played across Brazil, South Korea, Bahrain, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Lebanon. He won the Liga 1 title with PSM Makassar in 2023 and the Lebanese Premier League with Nejmeh in 2024, before helping Garudayaksa win the Indonesian Championship in 2025–26; he said: “I’m very happy to be joining Odisha FC and excited about this opportunity. I’m looking forward to playing in front of the Kalinga Stadium supporters and giving my best for the team. I hope we can achieve great things together.”
With Eze, Molina, Aburjania and Nascimento now under contract until the end of the 2026–27 ISL season, Odisha FC has bolstered its options across defence, midfield and attack ahead of the forthcoming campaign and confirmed all four players will be part of the squad for the 2026–27 Indian Super League season.