ISL side Kerala Blasters set to sign Montenegro international Nebojša Kosović
Five-time Serbian Cup winner arrives as a free agent to become Ashley Westwood’s second foreign signing of the Al Fursan era
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
Kerala Blasters are set to complete the signing of Montenegrin international Nebojša Kosović ahead of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season, Khel Now can reveal.
The 31-year-old central midfielder arrives as a free agent. His contract with Thai League 1 side Bangkok United expired in July, 2026, and he has been without a club since.
Both parties have agreed on all the terms of the deal, and the signing will be completed before the player travels to India for pre-season.
The Blasters also explored other midfield options before deciding to sign the Montenegro international.
Kosović is the second foreigner finalised by Kerala Blasters head coach Ashley Westwood, after former Aston Villa winger Andre Green, who also joined on a free.
As Khel Now revealed earlier, the Blasters are also set to sign Mohammed Sanan, Amrinder Singh, Sahil Tavora, Ramhlunchhunga and Mohammed Yasir, and to extend the contract of Aiban Dohling.
Who is Nebojša Kosović?
Born in Nikšić in February 1995, Kosović came through the academy at Vojvodina in Serbia, where he spent five years from 2007. He made his senior debut as a 16-year-old in the 2010-11 season and went on to play 38 matches for the club, 30 of them in the league.
He joined Belgian side Standard Liège in January 2014 but never made a competitive appearance. He was loaned straight back out to Újpest in Hungary, where two spells across 2014 brought 27 appearances and the Magyar Kupa in 2013-14.
Five Serbian Cups at Partizan
Kosović joined Partizan on a free transfer in August 2015 and stayed three and a half years, the longest spell of his career.
He made 81 appearances for the Belgrade club, 60 of them in the Serbian top flight, and scored five goals. Partizan won the Serbian Cup in each of his four seasons there, and the league title in 2016-17 for a domestic double.
Including the cup he won with Vojvodina in 2013-14, Kosović is a five-time Serbian Cup winner.
Seven years in Asia before India
Kosović has spent the last seven and a half years working across Asia, which is the most relevant part of his record for Kerala.
He joined Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan in March 2019. Kairat was his most decorated spell outside Serbia. He made 72 appearances and scored nine goals, and won the Kazakh league title and the domestic cup.
He then moved to Chinese Super League side Meizhou Hakka in April 2022, and China brought the most productive period of his career: 73 appearances and 12 goals across three seasons, with 12 assists. He scored five in his final campaign there in 2024.
He joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Tai in January 2025, making 13 appearances without scoring, and moved to Bangkok United that September. In Thailand, he played 26 matches and scored four, including 10 appearances in the AFC Champions League Two and four in the ASEAN Club Championship.
In all, Kosović has made 330 senior appearances, scoring 34 goals and providing 35 assists in 20,920 minutes of football.
Twenty-five European appearances
Kosović has played 25 matches in UEFA competitions, scoring once.
Only five of those came in a group stage. He played all five for Kairat in the Conference League in 2021-22, the season the Kazakh side reached the group phase.
The rest were qualifiers – 12 in Europa League qualifying, where his only European goal came for Vojvodina in 2013-14, seven in Champions League qualifying and one in Conference League qualifying. He has not appeared in the Champions League or Europa League group stage.
Thirty-four caps for Montenegro
Kosović has 34 caps and one goal for Montenegro.
He made his senior debut on May 29, 2016, in a 1-0 win away to Turkey, and scored his only international goal in a 2-1 friendly win over Hungary on September 6, 2019. He also has four international assists.
His caps break down as 10 in the UEFA Nations League, nine in World Cup qualifying, nine in friendlies and six in European Championship qualifying. He last played for his country in June 2024, away to Belgium.
What he adds to Westwood’s setup
Kosović is a central midfielder by trade and can play as a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder if required.
That flexibility addresses the area Westwood has been working to rebuild since taking charge in March 2026, when he replaced David Català.
His minutes have tapered, though. Kosović played 656 league minutes in Thailand last season and 818 in Saudi Arabia the year before, against 2,254 in his final season in China.
Westwood has been central to identifying the club’s overseas targets and has drawn up his own shortlist of foreign players for the new owners to pursue. Khel Now understands Kerala Blasters remain in talks with two more foreign players.
Blasters kick off season away to Inter Kashi
The Blasters begin their ISL 2026-27 campaign away to Inter Kashi on October 11, with their first home game at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi against Mumbai City FC on October 25.
Seven of their 12 Phase 1 matches are away from home.
Who is Nebojša Kosović?
A 31-year-old Montenegrin central midfielder with 34 international caps. He has played for Vojvodina, Standard Liège, Újpest, Partizan, Kairat Almaty, Meizhou Hakka, Al-Tai and Bangkok United, making 330 senior appearances and scoring 34 goals.
Which club does Nebojša Kosović join Kerala Blasters from?
He arrives as a free agent. His contract at Bangkok United, of Thai League 1, expired on July 1, 2026.
Has Nebojša Kosović played in Asia before?
Yes, continuously since 2019, with spells in Kazakhstan, China, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. The most productive was at Meizhou Hakka in the Chinese Super League — 73 appearances, 12 goals and 12 assists. He played 10 matches in the AFC Champions League Two last season.
What has Nebojša Kosović won?
Five Serbian Cups — four with Partizan and one with Vojvodina — plus the Serbian league title with Partizan in 2016-17, the Magyar Kupa with Újpest, and the Kazakh league title and cup with Kairat Almaty.
How many foreigners have Kerala Blasters signed?
Two so far — Andre Green and Nebojša Kosović, both on free transfers. Khel Now understands talks are ongoing with two more.
When do Kerala Blasters play their first match of ISL 2026-27?
October 11, 2026, away to Inter Kashi at 5:00 PM IST. Their first home game is against Mumbai City FC in Kochi on October 25.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.