Top players who moved directly between East Bengal & Mohun Bagan SG ft: Anwar Ali, Bhaichung Bhutia

Sayan Banerjee secured a shocking move from East Bengal to Mohun Bagan SG

The rich history and legacy between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan SG have been one of the key things that have made Indian football interesting. That’s why it’s called as the “Kolkata Derby” of Indian football. Not only do the on-pitch rivalries stand apart from these two giants, but also the off-pitch football operations and transfers make these two sides very ruthless.

Many players have represented both Kolkata giants during their careers. From legends like Subhash Bhowmick and Manoranjan Bhattacharya to Katsumi Yusa, Mehtab Hossain, and Anwar Ali, the list continues to grow.

Now, another name has been added to it as East Bengal FC prodigy Sayan Banerjee joins Mohun Bagan SG after struggling for regular game time with the senior team.

In this article, we take a look at the players who made the direct switch between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, representing both Kolkata giants during their careers.

Lalramchullova

The Mizo-born defender Lalramchullova signed for Mohun Bagan from East Bengal in July 2019. He firstly won the 2015-16 I-League title with Aizawl FC, then secured a move to the red and gold camp, where he played for around two consecutive seasons.

After some good games in the Calcutta Football League for the Red and Gold Brigade, Mohun Bagan clinched his signing under Kibu Vicuna.

Tolgay Ozbey

The Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey signed for Mohun Bagan from their arch-rivals East Bengal FC. To this day, it remains one of the most controversial transfers in Kolkata football. The deal was surrounded by nearly four months of uncertainty and dispute between the two clubs, with the IFA also intervening in the matter.

Tolgay spent around two years with the Red and Gold Brigade before expressing his desire to move to Mohun Bagan. However, the East Bengal management maintained that his five-year contract with the club would not allow him to join the Green and Maroon side.

The matter eventually reached the IFA, which found Ozbey guilty and imposed a fine of around ₹5 lakh. Tolgay later paid approximately ₹10.28 lakh and also issued a formal apology. Following that, he successfully secured his move to Mohun Bagan.

Syed Rahim Nabi

Syed Rahim Nabi, who was in the headlines this ISL season following his multiple statements against Oscar Bruzon, once played for both Kolkata giants.

The Bengal boy was known for his versatility, having excelled in various positions on the pitch. Rahim Nabi was once a true Red and Gold loyalist, but after a successful spell with East Bengal FC, he joined Mohun Bagan in 2011.

Before making the switch, he had spent seven seasons with the Torchbearers.

Mehtab Hossain

The former India midfielder and East Bengal legend Mehtab Hossain got the move for just one year to Mohun Bagan from the Moshal Brigade.

In May 2018, he signed for the Green and Maroon Brigade, but interestingly, in his early days, before he joined the Torchbearers. Mehtab Hossain once played for Mohun Bagan from 2003 to 2006.

Subhash Bhowmick

The East Bengal legend himself, Subhash Bhowmick, also has played for both sides during his footballing career. He made East Bengal FC the NFL champions as a head coach, but before that, he was a great footballer who moved many times between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

He started his career with East Bengal FC, playing for one year with them. Subhash Bhowmick was part of the famous East Bengal FC’s 5-0 IFA Shield win over Mohun Bagan. And not only this, he clinched the bronze medal at the Asian Games 1970.

Monoranjan Bhattacharya

East Bengal’s one of their own defenders, Monoranjan Bhattacharya, widely known as “Mona Da” in Kolkata football, made a very controversial transfer from East Bengal to Mohun Bagan at the end of the 1990-1991 season.

He spent more than 10 years at East Bengal FC and also captained the Red and Gold side. After bringing an end to his long association with the club in 1991, he joined Mohun Bagan, where he continued to impress with his performances.

He won the Rovers Cup with the Green and Maroon Brigade. Then Monoranjan Bhattacharya rejoined East Bengal FC in 1993.

Katsumi Yusa

Japanese midfielder Katsumi Yusa has played for both sides in the Indian football circuit. East Bengal secured the signing of Yusa in 2017 from Mohun Bagan. He was once the heart of the Mohun Bagan side with his impressive gameplay.  He had scored 17 goals in 78 I-League appearances for the Mariners. Yusa played for four seasons with Mohun Bagan.

He also captained the side. Under Khalid Jamil, he played an important part as East Bengal reached the Super Cup quarter-finals.

Bhaichung Bhutia

The Indian legendary forward Bhaichung Bhutia made many appearances for both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in his career. After his spell with Bury FC in England, he joined Mohun Bagan in 2002. But the transfer didn’t get the spotlight as he got injured during the time and returned to East Bengal FC for the second time in 2003.

For the Red and Gold brigade, he won the ASEAN Club Championship. After some good games with East Bengal, he joined Mohun Bagan in 2006 for the second time. And he also captained the side.

Anwar Ali

This was one of the most controversial and recent transfers that shocked Indian football from top to bottom. The former Mohun Bagan defender signed a multi-year deal with their arch-rivals East Bengal FC in 2024. However, the case took another turn when Mohun Bagan appealed to the CAS.

The transfer saga between the two clubs has now stretched beyond 18 months and continues to develop with each passing day.

But currently, Anwar Ali is playing for the Red and Gold side, and played an important role as they lifted their first-ever ISL title.

Sayan Banerjee

Sayan Banerjee, the young East Bengal star, has just completed his move to Mohun Bagan SG after not getting the opportunity in the senior team under Oscar Bruzon. Sayan Banerjee signed a multi-year deal with the Green and Maroon side as he will now feature as a new Mohun Bagan star from the next season.

The Asansol-born winger scored a memorable goal against Mohun Bagan in the Kolkata derby and regularly delivered strong performances in big games. In the 2025 CFL season, he scored five goals and provided one assist. 

Sayan Banerjee is the latest inclusion in the list of players who have moved between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan.

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