Mumbai City FC to register El Khayati for AFC Champions League Only

El Khayati has signed a one-year deal

Attacking midfielder Abdenasser El Khayati has joined ISL shield winners Mumbai City FC as a free agent on a one-year contract. However, it has come to Khel Now’s knowledge that the Islanders shall not be availing the services of the prolific Dutch attacker in the Indian Super League. He will only be used in the AFC Champions League matches. 

In a squad blistering with quality foreigners like Greg Stewart, Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Alberto Noguera, Yoell van Nieff, Rostyn Griffiths and Tiri, a slot for El Khayati is not available. The Indian Super League allows a maximum of six foreigners for a club to register and Mumbai City FC already have their six slots booked. At this moment, all the six foreigners of Mumbai City FC are fit to play. So, there is no chance for new signing El Khayati to make it into the league’s squad. 

This rule, however is not applicable in the AFC Champions League. A team can register a maximum of 35 players in the ACL, and there is no limit to the number of foreign players a team can register. So, Mumbai City FC is set to register Abdenasser El Khayati into their ACL team only. In the match day squad, they can have a total 6 foreigners but one should be from an Asian country.

El Khayati had a wonderful last season when he was playing for ISL side Chennaiyin FC. During his stint with Chennaiyin, he scored nine goals and assisted five times in the 12 games he played in. 

The Islanders would hope that the 34-year-old will prove his worth in the ACL too. AS, in the upcoming ACL, Mumbai City FC will be packed with tough challenges from Neymar’s Al Hilal, Iranian side Nassaji Mazandaran Uzbekistan’s Navbahor. Mumbai City FC will begin their ACL journey on the 18th of September, when they face Nassaji Mazandaran at the Balewadi Stadium, Pune.