Revealed: How Stabaek approached Gurpreet Singh Sandhu for shock return

The custodian was offered a second stint by the Norwegian club.

India's penalty shootout hero Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who played in integral part in the Blue Tigers' ninth SAFF Championship win, was a key target for Norway's top division club Stabaek Fotball, Khel Now can reveal.

"Stabaek offered Gurpreet a deal to become their No. 1 goalkeeper during January of this year, and wanted him in Norway by February 2023," a source close to the development had revealed.

In early February, the time by which Stabaek expected a decision to be made, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu had a lot of factors to consider. Bengaluru FC were firmly in the playoffs race after a poor start to the season, and it would have been impossible for him to leave.

Additionally, the six foot six guardian between the sticks faced the prospect of missing the Hero Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship because of non-FIFA days. After careful consideration, Gurpreet decided to complete the season with the Blues, and signed a five-year contract extension till the 2028-29 season.

Gurpreet's fruitful stint with Stabaek Fotball

Between 2011 and 2014, Gurpreet made 112 appearances for East Bengal across both I-League and AFC Cup campaigns. He earned a lot of praise for his handling, distribution, and decision-making during set-pieces. After appearing for trials, he signed for Norwegian club Stabaek Fotball in August 2014 on a three-year deal.

Gurpreet became the fifth Indian football player to play in Europe. The 31-year-old played in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers against Welsh Side Connah's Quay Town, becoming the first Indian to play in the Europa League. He was the default between the sticks for Stabaek’s 2016 cup run and made his league debut in a 5-0 victory against IK Start. He made a total of 11 appearances for the first team and above 50 appearances for reserve team before moving to Bengaluru FC in August 2017.

He also went on to captain Stabaek, another historical feat for an Indian footballer plying his trade overseas. This period spent in a competitive league with quality players and coaches helped Gurpreet improve and evolve a lot as a player.