A look at Kerala Blasters FC's foreign contingent for ISL 2026-27
Kerala Blasters build exciting squad for ISL 2026-27 amid ownership change.
Kerala Blasters FC that nearly shut its doors in the summer have built a squad in the span of a few weeks ahead of ISL 2026-27. By July, only 13 players remained on the books while Magnum Sports searched for a new investor. Then came Al Fursan, and with it a squad assembled at speed ahead of the October 11 opener against Inter Kashi.
The last campaign was two seasons in one. Under David Català, the Blasters managed a single point from their first six matches before he was dismissed in March. Ashley Westwood arrived at the lowest point in the club’s history and took 13 points from his first six games, with four wins and a draw. An unbeaten run in the final stretch lifted the side out of danger.
The stakes have risen since. UAE-based Al Fursan, led by Sheikh Ahmad bin Faisal Al Qasimi, took over from Magnum, in a deal to be completed in phases over eight months.
The club have lost three ISL finals and never won the title, and its biggest fan group, Manjappada, boycotted home games from April in protest at how the club was run.
The new owners inherit a club that needs results and also needs its supporters back at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The home opener against Mumbai City on 25 October is the first test of that.
Westwood had drawn up his own shortlist of overseas targets and was instrumental in the signing process. Westwood went for functional versatility over star power. In a short preseason, players who can slot into several roles are easier to integrate. Several of them also know Asian conditions, which aids in their adaptation to the Indian conditions.
In this article, we take a look at the foreign contingent of Kerala Blasters for the 2026-27 ISL season.
Kerala Blasters FC’s Foreign Players 2026-27
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Adrián Luna
The club’s most enduring foreign figure. Luna tops the club charts for assists and goal contributions since arriving from Melbourne City in 2021. He was loaned to Persik Kediri in January, returned on 30 June, and has rejoined the preseason camp.
The Uruguayan is known for his set pieces, final-third creativity and pressing. He can play off the striker, drop into midfield, or start from the left.
At 34, he is the creative link to the old Blasters. The open question is whether his legs can cover the demands of an intense transition game.
- Age: 34
- Nationality: Uruguay
- Position: CAM/RW/LW
- Preferred Foot: Right
- Played for: Melbourne City, Espanyol, Persik
Andre Green
The Englishman became the Tuskers’ first foreign signing ahead of the ISL 2026-27 season. An Aston Villa academy product who made his Premier League debut at 17 against Tottenham. He was once in the tabs of pundits and fans as a next big thing, but injuries caught up with the player.
He has also won two Slovak titles with Slovan Bratislava, where he also scored seven goals in 19 European games.
He prefers the left but can play either wing or as a secondary striker, which fits Westwood’s 4-4-2. The concern is form. He had no goals and only one assist in 858 league minutes for Panserraikos and AVS in 2025-26.
- Age: 28
- Nationality: England
- Position: LW/RW
- Preferred Foot: Right
- Played for: Aston Villa, Slovan Bratislava, Rotherham United
Also Read: A look at Mumbai City FC’s foreign contingent for ISL 2026-27
James Bolton
Post the departure of Marko Leskovic, the Blasters are unable to find a faithful in defence to lead the team from the back. And James Bolton might be the answer that Blasters were looking over these years.
A journeyman in the best sense: 413 appearances over nearly fourteen years, including a League One title with Plymouth Argyle in 2022-23. This is his first move outside European football.
The factor that will aid for the Blasters from Bolton will be his versatility. He has 200 appearances at right-back and 152 at centre-back, with 28 career goals. He gives Westwood defensive cover and an option to push a full-back forward. James’ previous experience includes League Two and Scottish top-flight, so expect reliability rather than a step up.
- Age: 32
- Nationality: England
- Position: CB/RB
- Preferred Foot: Right
- Played for: Plymouth Argyle, Portsmouth, Shrewsbury Town, St Mirren, Fleetwood Town
Nebojša Kosović
Perhaps, the most exciting signing out of the newcomers is Nebojša Kosović. Under the previous ownership, a proper midfielder who could orchestrate the game was the request of the Blasters’ faithfuls, and finally they got it in the form of Montenegrin Nebojša Kosović.
A five-time Serbian Cup winner with 34 Montenegro caps, who also won league titles with Partizan and Kairat Almaty.
A box-to-box or holding midfielder who can also play as an attacking midfielder, he is not unknown to Asian football. His best career spell was 73 games and 12 goals at Meizhou Hakka in China. But the concern is his playing time over the past two seasons: 656 league minutes in Thailand, after 818 in Saudi Arabia.
- Age: 31
- Nationality: Montenegro
- Position: CM/DM/CAM
- Preferred Foot: Right
- Notable Previous Clubs: Partizan, Kairat Almaty, Meizhou Hakka, Bangkok United
Momo Yansané
A Guinea international who won the Moldovan league and cup double with Sheriff Tiraspol in 2021-22. Yes, he was part of the team that beat Spanish giants Real Madrid in the Champions League. He last played for Pyunik Yerevan before leaving as a free agent in August.
The only senior striker on the list, and the most important signing for that reason. His last season brought 8 goals in 26 appearances across the Armenian league, Cypriot league and cups.
That is modest, so he is a pressing and link-up striker rather than a proven finisher. But the ISL has always players who came with the least hype turning heroes overnight.
- Age: 29
- Nationality: Guinea
- Position: CF/LW/SS
- Preferred Foot: Right
- Played for: Sheriff Tiraspol, HNK Rijeka, Omonia Aradippou, Pyunik
Fallou Ndiaye
Photo: Shibu Preman / Focus Sports / ISL
The mid-season gamble that stuck. Ndiaye arrived on 4 March from Finnish side SJK Seinäjoki as a replacement for Oumar Bah, three matches into a season in which the Blasters had lost every game. He was a 23-year-old on a short-term deal to the end of the season and had to steady a defence in a relegation fight. Ndiaye then played through the Westwood turnaround, finishing with nine starts, two goals and 810 minutes in the ISL.
Size and aerial authority are the best strengths of Fallou. At 1.98m he was the tallest member of the squad, and his Finnish record included five league goals in 37 appearances, mostly from set pieces.
He is also credited with contributing to build-up play from the back. The tactical question is pace. If the report that Westwood wanted a faster defender is accurate, signing back Ndiaye suggests he is being paired with a quicker partner or a mobile full-back to cover space.
- Age: 24
- Nationality: Senegal
- Position: CB
- Preferred Foot: Right
- Played for: SJK Seinäjoki, Haka
Who is the head coach of Kerala Blasters FC?
Ashley Westwood is the head coach of Kerala Blasters FC.
How many foreign players do Kerala Blasters have in their squad for ISL 2026–27?
Kerala Blasters have six foreign players in their squad for ISL 2026-27: Adrián Luna, André Green, James Bolton, Momo Yansane, Fallou Ndiaye and Nebojša Kosović
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