Sreenidhi Deccan complete signing of Shibil Muhammed on one-year deal

The outfit are recruiting players for their maiden appearance in the second tier of Indian football.

The new I-League outfit Sreenidhi FC complete the signing of Shibil Muhammed ahead of the next season, Khel Now can confirm. The defensive midfielder has been offered a one-year contract with an option for a year's extension. He is one of many players who are joining the club which will participate in the second tier of Indian football. 

“Sreenidhi Deccan FC are set to complete the signing of midfielder Shibil Muhammed. He has been offered a one-year deal with an option to extend for another year and is expected to sign on the dotted line soon,” a source close to the developments told Khel Now.

Sreenidhi Deccan were established in 2015 and got playing rights in the I-League for the 2021/22 season. This is after the All India Football Federation opened an invitation for a corporate entry into the league. Shibil Muhammed arrives from Gokulam Kerala, who are the reigning champions of the league. 

Player Profile

The 23-year-old defensive midfielder Shibil Muhammed is an exciting prospect who played 16 games across all competitions for the Malabarians. Furthermore, despite playing in a conservative role, he scored four goals, three in the I-League and one in the Durand Cup. However, he could record only two appearances last term.

The player has two trophies under his belt with GKFC and will be gearing up for a new challenge from next season onward. Shibil earned promotion to the Gokulam Kerala senior team after impressing for their “B” side in 2019. The move to Sreenidhi Deccan should work well for Shibil Muhammad, as he will get more game-time to continue his development.

The preparations by the club

As for the club, they are recruiting players in a timely fashion to prepare ahead of their debut season. They appointed former GKFC and Churchill Brothers head coach Fernando Varela to spearhead their maiden challenge. In addition to Shibil Muhammed, Sreenidhi Deccan have also brought in players like Ubaid CK, Dinesh Singh, Shahbaaz Khan among others. They also recently completed the signing of defender Arijit Bagui.

Shibil will add further depth to their ranks and he can play multiple roles in midfield. It will be interesting to see what kind of tactics the tactician will employ at the club. The new signing will add an extra flavour to the upcoming season of the I-League. Muhammed has previously worked under Varela at GKFC. The tactician gave the midfielder his senior debut in the Durand Cup, where he scored as well. 

Moreover, Shibil Muhammed scored a brace on his I-League debut as well. Both goals came in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Chennai City FC. Sreenidhi Deccan are clearly working in tandem with the head coach and recruiting players he is familiar with. 

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