Chennaiyin FC sign India U-17 forward Thanglalsoun Gangte

Thanglalsoun Gangte received praises for his perfomance in the SAFF U-17 Championship 2022.

Chennaiyin FC have roped in promising young Manipuri striker Thanglalsoun Gangte on a multi-year deal ahead of the ISL 2023-24 season.

The 17-year-old sensation, who captured the attention of Indian football enthusiasts with some remarkable performances for India U-17 side, became the 10th Indian signing to join Marina Machans this season.

Gangte played a vital role in India’s fourth SAFF U-17 Championship title last year with four goals—joint highest, and also made heads turn by scoring a crucial last-minute equaliser against one of the world’s top clubs, Real Madrid, during India’s preparatory match for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup earlier this year.

Gangte possesses immense talent and potential to become India’s future football star and joining Chennaiyin, which is committed towards nurturing and developing young talents, will help him further develop his skills and make a significant growth in his career.

“Firstly I thank God and Chennaiyin FC for believing in me. If God is willing I'm looking forward to create more history together here as a family. I am not only representing the club but my family and my people who are suffering back home. God is good,” elated Gangte said on joining the two-time ISL champions.

After a quarter-final finish in the recent Durand Cup, Chennaiyin are currently preparing for the upcoming Hero ISL season under head coach Owen Coyle.

Chennaiyin FC’s preparations for the upcoming season

Chennaiyin FC have welcomed back Owen Coyle as their new tactician. Coyle will be taking charge of the side from August after he completes his obligations to current club Queen’s Park FC. Notably, Coyle has welcomed one of his former students – Jordan Murray. Murray is Chennaiyin’s first foreign signing of the season meanwhile, Connor Shields and Rafael Crivellaro are the second and third, respectively.

Notably, they are perhaps the only team with numerous young talents in it – the recent ones being Irfan Yadwad, Sachu Siby, Bijay Chhetri, Sarthak Golui and Prateek Kumar Singh. They have also roped in former East Bengal right-back Ankit Mukherjee.

One of the major Indian signings and a surprising one too, was that of Farukh Choudhary (as revealed by Khel Now earlier), who was out of action for quite some time and received very less game-time last season after recovering from the injury. Now with Owen Coyle on board and six totally new foreign players, it is to be seen how Chennaiyin FC perform this season.