NorthEast United FC & Aizawl FC star Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia agree terms for summer move

The 24-year-old striker scored 12 goals during the 2024-25 I-League campaign

Indian Super League (ISL) club NorthEast United FC have agreed terms with I-League side Aizawl FC striker Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia for next season. The promising striker scored 12 goals for the I-League side in 19 league games to save them from relegation.

Lalbiaknia will join the 2024 Durand Cup winners, who boast exciting attacking talent like Jithin M.S., Parthib Gogoi and the ISL Golden Boot winner Alaeddine Ajaraie. The 24-year-old is entering the final month of his contract with Aizawl and will join the Highlanders for the 2025-26 ISL campaign.

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Following a disappointing end to their 2024-25 ISL playoffs campaign, the Highlanders will be looking to build back their way for next season. The club has acquired another young exciting Indian prospect who can ease the burden of scoring goals and help them make that extra push.

Lalbiaknia’s breakout season came during the 2023-24 I-League campaign with Aizawl FC, where he scored 15 goals and also registered three assists in 20 games. He followed that season with the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 12 goals in 19 games, including an eye-catching brace in a crucial matchweek 22 encounter against Namdhari FC.

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Top ISL clubs circled for Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia’s signature

The Highlanders faced a lot of competition from top ISL clubs like Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Jamshedpur FC for Lalbiaknia’s signature. However, the 24-year-old was particularly impressed by what NorthEast United FC had to offer and how the club could aid his development.

The club has paved the way for various young Indian talents like Gurmeet Singh. Macarton Louis Nickson and Parthib Gogoi, a path into the top division of Indian football. A former Bengaluru FC academy graduate, Lalbiaknia also shares close ties with club CEO Mandar Tamhane and assistant coach Naushad Moosa, which ultimately factored in his final decision.

The 24-year-old has taken the hard road to success and signing with the Highlanders showcases his ambition of playing at the highest level. Juan Pedro Benali will be keen to get his hands on a raw talent like Lalbiaknia and mould him into possibly a star pupil in the NorthEast United FC lineup.

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