Top five Chennaiyin FC new signings to watchout for in ISL 2024-25: Lalrinliana Hnamte, Chima Chumnku & more

The Marina Machans can potentially be title contenders with their promising players this season.

Chennaiyin FC inaugurated their Indian Super League(ISL) 2024-25 campaign with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Odisha FC in one of their toughest away games. Despite the odds being tilted against their favour, Owen Coyle’s men scaled the heights and came out on top of the pile.

While Farukh Choudhary’s emergence with a brace was the talk of the town, newcomers Daniel Chima Chukwu and Lalrinliana Hnamte also impressed in the win. The burly striker scored a sumptuous goal as the former Mohun Bagan youngster showcased maturity beyond his years. 

The Marina Machans have plenty more players to rely on and this is only the inception of their squad displaying their prowess. With a majority of the competitive season left to unfurl, here are the top five Chennaiyin FC debutants to watch out for.

5. Lukas Brambilla

Although he joined quite early, Lukas Brambilla has not featured extensively for Owen Coyle’s side. The Brazilian has big shoes to fill as he was brought in to replace outgoing Chennaiyin FC fan-favourite and his national compatriot, Rafael Crivellaro. 

While the attacking midfielder only played two minutes in the Marina Machans victory in Bhubaneshwar, Brambilla has the potential to excel at the club. His current coach has previously expressed that he harbours the ability to beat his man, and create and score goals. 

The Scottish mentor even went so far as to say he has the skillset needed to replicate the pivotal creative outlets that he worked with in the past which include the likes of Greg Stewart and Crivellaro. Brambilla is hence, one of Chennaiyin FC’s most promising candidates to have a breakthrough campaign this season.  

4. Kiyan Nassiri

Kiyan Nassiri has built a repertoire as a versatile forward in the league and will offer Chennaiyin FC much-needed dynamism in attack with his pace, versatility, and raw goalscoring instinct. While he will have to compete with multiple contenders including the foreigners, the former Kolkata Derby hat trick scorer has already proven his mettle to shine under pressure.

The only factor restricting him from the same time as Nassiri has not started in the ISL 2024-25 or any of the other competitions that Chennaiyin FC has played in this year. While those will come with time, the 23-year-old striker has a penchant for making the most of his chances. Under Coyle’s guidance, he is also on track to sharpen his skills and follow the path of forwards like Lallianzuala Chhangte, who have blossomed into class players under the mentor’s tutelage. 

3. Lalrinliana Hnamte

Brought in from Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Lalrinliana Hnamte showed off his technical superiority in his very first game with the Marina Machans. The nimble-footed youngster shone in a midfield stacked with some of the ISL’s most experienced veterans like Ahmed Jahouh and Hugo Boumous. 

Hnamte got down to terrorising Amrinder Singh from the initial stages, as he left the league double-winning shot-stopper rooted to the spot with his 37th-minute free-kick which rattled the crossbar and bounced off. The midfielder gave the Juggernauts midfield contingent a run for their money as he eased through the famed pressure that is a trademark of Sergio Lobera’s sides.

His defining moment came in the 69th minute when he jinked past Isak Vanlalruatfela and Narender Gahlot and put in an inch-perfect cutback for Daniel Chima Chukwu to finish. Hnamte has garnered the attention of all Indian football fans and is definitely one to watch out for in Chennaiyin FC’s colours this season. 

2. Gurkirat Singh

The SAFF 2022 U-20 Championship top scorer has hit the ground running for the club. Gurkirat is a talented winger who can also contend as a wingback, and he has already proven his efficiency for the Marina Machans. 

Said contribution came on 25th August in the Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy 2024 as the attacker judged the flight of an aerial ball perfectly connecting with it for the first time to generate a stupendous side volley of the highest standards in acrobatic fashion, scoring against Churchill Brothers. Gurkirat gave his side a glimpse of things to come as his tendency to come short and occupy central areas can be a threat to any opposing side. 

Like Nassiri, Gurkirat’s diverse skillset will come in handy for Chennaiyin FC and makes him a worthwhile debutant for his team in the current campaign.

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1. Daniel Chima Chukwu

Daniel Chima Chukwu was one of the most eye-catching transfers of this transfer window ahead of the ISL 2024-25. The former Jamshedpur FC icon couldn’t resist the temptation of playing under his former coach once again as he had thrived earlier.  

Chima Chukwu’s potent goalscoring threat remained ever-so rampant for his new side as he scored his first goal for them in the ISL 2024-25. The stocky Nigerian sniffed out a gap in the Odisha FC defence as he latched onto an inch-perfect pass from Hnamte and fired a rocket into the bottom corner from a baffling angle. If his contribution to the energetic setup that Owen Coyle has built so far is anything to go by, he might be Chennaiyin FC’s best debutant this year.

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