Top five Deadline Day transfers in Indian football this January

The winter transfer window saw a lot of exciting deals this time around.

The last day of the January transfer window was very eventful. Deadline Day, as it is popularly known, sees clubs race to complete transfers before the window is shut. As always, the January 2022 transfer window saw Indian football clubs make headlines on the final day.

The eleventh-hour deals are particularly interesting, as they come with a risk. Furthermore, deals that happen in the winter transfer window are made keeping the ongoing season in mind. Therefore, several loan deals take place, with teams that are trying to achieve their seasonal objectives.

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A lot of action took place on Deadline Day, despite the prevalent COVID-19 pandemic situation. While the Indian Super League is in full flow, the I-League clubs were also active, despite the league currently being suspended due to breaches in the bio-bubble.

Shifting focus towards the Deadline Day deals, here are the top five transfers that took place in Indian football during the January 2022 window:

5. Flan Gomes - FC Goa to Rajasthan United

Rajashtan United are the debutant club in the current season of the I-League. The outfit gained promotion after winning the Second Division League and made several notable additions to the team. Despite the current situation surrounding the league, RUFC made moves in the January transfer window. 

Their Deadline Day business saw them bring in Flan Gomes among other signings. He is a talented youngster from FC Goa, who comes to the club on loan until the end of the season. The 20-year-old forward was struggling for game-time, but thanks to this move, he should get more in the forthcoming days.

4. Huidrom Naocha Singh - Mumbai City FC to SC East Bengal

SC East Bengal had an eventful January, which saw them go through a managerial change and several personnel changes. Their only Deadline Day transfer was full-back Huidrom Naocha Singh. The full-back adds more defensive depth to the team, who are struggling in the bottom places of the ISL points table.

He arrives from Mumbai City FC on a loan deal which will run until the end of the season. Singh did not make any appearances for the Islanders in the league, but will hope to bag some game-time with the Red and Gold.

3. Ricky Shabong - ATK Mohun Bagan to Rajasthan United

Rajashtan United were busy on the final day of the transfer window, trying to get their potential deals across the line. Ricky Shabong was one of the transfers they secured on Deadline Day. The 19-year-old joins the club on loan until the end of the season from ATK Mohun Bagan. The former Indian Arrows player has I-League experience under his belt.

Having that will certainly help him in terms of contributing to Rajasthan United. Furthermore, the defensive midfielder was way down the pecking order at the Mariners because of the quality of the squad. He should get more game-time in the I-League whenever it resumes. 

2. Yaya Banana - Shabab Al-Ordon to Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC made a Deadline Day signing as well by bringing in Yaya Banana from Shabab Al-Ordon. The centre-back has signed on a free transfer until the end of the season, which will give a boost to the Blues. Marco Pezzaiuoli’s men are in a rich vein of form and heading in the right direction in the points table.

Banana has previous experience of playing for notable European clubs like FC Sochaux and Olympiacos in France and Greece respectively. His arrival in the ISL will certainly add more protection to the Blues in defence. 

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1. Lallianzuala Chhangte - Chennaiyin FC to Mumbai City FC

The Deadline Day of the winter transfer window saw one of the most high-profile transfers in Indian football. Lallianzuala Chhangte completed a move to Mumbai City from Chennaiyin FC on the final day of the window. As Khel Now revealed, he will initially join the defending ISL champions on a six-month loan deal, before completing the three-year move once his contract with Chennaiyin ends.

The star-studded squad at MCFC has even more firepower thanks to Chhangte’s arrival. It is worth noting that he is the third-highest Indian goalscorer in the history of the ISL, with 20 goals in 90 matches.

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