List of foreigners who left ISL due to uncertainty in Indian Football
The 2025-26 ISL season is yet to begin as uncertainty looms over.
The uncertainty over the future of the Indian Super League (ISL) is having its ripples that are damaging the Indian football scene. As the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the clubs’ hierarchy maintain discussions for the 2025-26 ISL campaign to take place, the constant delays are causing frustrations to mount among many players.
While the Indian footballers have no choice but to wait to see the resolution of the situation, the same doesn’t apply for the foreign players. For many of the foreign stars, the uncertainty of the ISL’s future is also having a negative impact on their future.
The more the league gets delayed, the more many foreign players across multiple ISL teams become concerned over the timely payment of their future salary and their chance of continuing to play football in India.
A few foreign players have become incensed by the lack of progress in the start of the ISL and decided to leave Indian football itself. Here we look at the five foreigners to have left the ISL because of the mounting uncertainty.
Jesus Jimenez
Kerala Blasters roped in Jesus Jimenez as the replacement of Dimitrios Diamantakos ahead of the 2024-25 ISL campaign in an effort to bolster their push for a playoff place. To his credit, the Leganes youth academy product actually made a pretty positive impact in the ISL despite all the chaos within the Kerala Blasters unit. He scored 11 goals in the 2024-25 ISL campaign, being one of the Tuskers’ best players in many losing efforts.
However, Kerala Blasters could not hold onto the services of the Spanish forward beyond the 2024-25 campaign. Because of no assurances of when the 2025-26 ISL campaign will begin, Jimenez wasn’t that keen on staying in Indian football and Kerala Blasters were uncertain about fulfilling his financial demands. The Spaniard ended up leaving Indian football and is currently playing in the Polish first division (Ekstraklasa) for Nieciecza FC!
Edgar Mendez
Bengaluru FC have been really badly impacted by the uncertainty of the future of the ISL. So much so, that they were forced to take a drastic decision when it comes to their operations factor in August (2025). Bengaluru FC had to suspend first-team operations, which meant pausing the salaries and first-team staff members as well. This caused a ripple effect among many of the foreign members, who needed their salaries to sustain themselves. It also caused some departures, which included that of Spanish attacker Edgar Mendez.
The 35-year-old had a pretty good 2025-26 season with the Blues, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists for them, which included nine goals in the ISL. However, the uncertain situation at the club forced him to leave ahead of schedule.
He ended up joining Thai League club PT Prachuap FC in late August (2025) and is now thriving in the Thailand football scene because of the shaky situation in India. However, Edgar Mendez isn’t the only member of Bengaluru FC to leave. That is because their head coach, Gerard Zaragoza, and his coaching staff also departed Bengaluru FC in November 2025 because of the uncertainty of the ISL.
Javier Siverio
Javier Siverio was roped in by FC Goa after the 2024-25 campaign, in which he performed rather well for Jamshedpur FC and even helped them reach the ISL semi-finals. The Spanish forward, who started playing in Indian football from 2021, was signed by Goa to bolster their squad for the 2025-26 AFC Champions League two campaign.
He played in five of the Gaurs’ AFC Champions League two campaign matches, failing to score any goals, but Siverio did score a key goal to help them qualify for the group stages. After making 10 appearances and scoring two goals for Goa, Siverio was not able to continue for them because of his growing concern over the future of the ISL. After not being convinced about that and potential future payment issues, Siverio decided to leave Goa after their AFC Champions League Two campaign ended.
Javier Hernandez
Javier Hernandez enjoyed quite a bit of success in Indian football, helping ATK win the ISL title in the 2019-20 campaign before going on to enjoy stints with Odisha FC and Bengaluru FC as well.
He spent the 2024-25 season at Jamshedpur FC and actually became a pretty pivotal player under Khalid Jamil’s coaching. He helped them reach the semi-finals of the ISL campaign, scoring nine goals in 26 games for them as well.
Hernandez had a memorable stint for Jamshedpur FC but couldn’t continue with the Men of Steel beyond the 2024-25 season.
That is because Jamshedpur FC had a mass exodus in terms of trimming down their squad after the 2024-25 season, mostly because of the uncertainty of the ISL and how much money they’d get from the league system in the 2025-26 season. Hernandez has returned to Spain, where he now plays for Segunda Federacion (fourth tier of Spanish football) for Alaca FC.
Borja Herrera
Perhaps the most controversial exit from an ISL club because of the uncertainty of top-division football in India is that of Borja Herrera from FC Goa.
The Spanish midfielder was a crucial midfielder for Manolo Marquez’s side and featured in almost all their AFC Champions League Two matches in the ongoing 2025-26 season as well.
Borja played a key role in helping FC Goa win the Super Cup title, scoring two goals and producing a solid performance in the win over East Bengal in the final, too.
However, the lack of assurances over when the ISL will start sent Herrera over the edge and forced him to look into other options.
He ultimately decided to leave FC Goa recently, agreeing to his exit with the club’s agreement as well. After his departure, Herrera sent a final jab at the AIFF and stated, “Please stop the nonsense and make a decision to save Indian football. This is shameful.”
Jon Toral
Perhaps another high-profile departure from an ISL club amid the uncertainty surrounding top-division football in India is that of Jon Toral, who recently parted ways with his club Mumbai City FC as well.
The Spanish midfielder brought experience and composure to the middle of the park and was seen as an important part of his team’s plans for the season. Having previously featured in top European leagues, Toral’s presence added quality and leadership, making his exit a significant blow for the club.
However, the ongoing lack of clarity over the ISL calendar, the future of the league and the financial constraints of the football club reportedly played a decisive role in his decision. With no concrete assurances over the league, Toral chose to explore other opportunities, eventually agreeing to an exit with mutual consent. The midfielder now joins Indonesian club Persik Kediri as a free agent.
Juan Rodriguez
Another foreigner to join this list of exiting from the ISL amid the ongoing uncertainty surrounding top-division football in India is that of Juan Rodríguez, who recently parted ways with Kerala Blasters FC.
The Spanish defender was an important figure at the back for the Blasters, bringing composure, experience, and tactical awareness to the defensive unit. Rodríguez featured regularly for the Kochi-based side and was expected to play a key role in their plans moving forward.
However, the prolonged lack of clarity surrounding ISL and the broader future of Indian football reportedly influenced his decision to seek opportunities elsewhere. With no firm timeline in place, continuing in an uncertain environment became increasingly difficult. The player and the club at the end decided to mutually end their association as the player joins Spanish side Marbella FC.
Iker Guarrotxena
Iker Guarrotxena is another foreign player whose time in the ISL has come to an end as uncertainty continues to surround top-division football in India, with the Spanish forward recently departing FC Goa.
Iker played for top ISL sides like Mumbai City FC and FC Goa. The Spaniard played 51 games in ISL scoring 21 goals and providing 4 assists. His work ethic and ability to stretch defences made him a useful asset for FC Goa over the course of his stint with the club.
After holding discussions with FC Goa, both parties agreed to part ways, bringing an end to his spell with the club. His departure further reflects the growing impact of administrative uncertainty on foreign professionals, many of whom are choosing stability over waiting indefinitely for clarity.
Tiri
Veteran defender Tiri is another foreign player to have moved on from the ISL to join Indonesian club Persijap Jepara amid the ongoing uncertainty looming around Indian football.
One of the most reliable Centre-backs in the league over the years, he started his journey in ISL from 2015 and almost served for a decade in the league. Tiri was a commanding presence at the back, known for his leadership, positioning, and consistency. His experience and ability to organize the defense made him a key figure for his club and a respected name across the league.
Following discussions with the club, Tiri decided to part ways and move on. His exit adds further weight to concerns that the lack of clarity around Indian football’s top tier is driving away experienced foreign professionals who have long contributed to the league’s quality and credibility.
Chema Nunez
Chema Nunez has mutually parted ways with Northeast United FC, becoming another foreign exit amid ISL uncertainty. The Spanish midfielder had been a creative presence for the Highlanders this season, contributing with his vision, passing, and attacking support throughout his time with the club.
Chema joined as the replacement of Nestor Albiach this season, however due to the uncertainty around ISL, the midfielder could not feature a lot for the highlanders and after discussions with the club, both parties agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent.
Hiroshi Ibusuki
Hiroshi Ibusuki has parted ways with East Bengal FC by mutual consent, with uncertainty surrounding the ISL and lack of clarity regarding the ongoing situation in Indian football.
The Japanese forward added experience and physicality to the attack, but the lack of stability and inconsistent results along with the situation around ISL, made it difficult for the player to continue with the club.
Alaaeddine Ajaraie
Alaaeddine Ajaraie has completed a loan move to Indonesian giants Persija Jakarta until the end of the season, with ongoing uncertainty around the ISL influencing the decision.
The Moroccan forward leaves NorthEast United FC after a prolific spell, having scored an impressive 39 goals and 15 assists in just 41 appearances. A constant threat in the final third, Ajaraie was central to Northeast United’s attacking identity and one of the league’s standout performers. His temporary switch reflects the broader instability surrounding the ISL, prompting key players to seek continuity elsewhere while keeping their long-term future open.
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Uttiyo is a sports journalist who has been covering football since 2016. He is an avid football enthusiast who spends hours either watching the beautiful game or writing about it. He has covered various tournaments for Khel Now, such as the FIFA U17 World Cup, ISL, I-League & AFC Champions League.