EXCLUSIVE: Bengaluru FC midfielder Soham Varshneya opens up about his football journey, dressing room learnings & future ambitions

Soham Varshneya earned 8 appearances for Bengaluru FC in his first ISL season

Over the course of the ISL 2025–26 season, Soham Varshneya has continued to establish himself as one of the promising young talents emerging through the Bengaluru FC system. Calm in possession and composed beyond his years in midfield, the youngster’s steady rise has been a reflection of both his technical development and growing maturity within the club environment.

After spending part of his early developmental years in Spain, Varshneya returned to India and gradually progressed through Bengaluru FC’s academy and reserve structure. His performances for BFC ‘B’ saw him earn the Player of the Season award for the 2024–25 campaign, while he also played an important role in the club’s successful Reliance Foundation Development League run.

Those performances eventually paved the way for opportunities with the senior team during the 2025–26 Indian Super League (ISL) season, where he continued gaining valuable experience alongside some of the league’s more established players.

Alongside his growth at club level, the midfielder also earned recognition on the international stage with appearances for the India U23 side, further highlighting his emergence as one of the exciting young prospects within Indian football.

In an exclusive conversation with Khel Now, Soham opened up on his journey through the Bengaluru FC ecosystem, adapting to the demands of senior football, the learnings from his first ISL season, the atmosphere at the Kanteerava, and his ambitions moving forward with both club, country and more.

On how he would describe his journey so far?

Having spent crucial developmental years away from home in both the UK and Spain, Soham Varshneya reflected on the sacrifices and challenges that shaped him early in his career.

The youngster spoke about the difficulty of living away from family at a young age, while also describing the experience as an important phase in both his personal and footballing growth.

“It’s been a bit of a hectic but amazing journey so far. I was away from my family for almost three years while I was in the UK and Spain, so being away from them was as hard as it gets. Living alone at a young age taught me a lot and helped me grow both as a person and as a footballer.”

Transition from the reserve team to the senior team

After impressing with BFC ‘B’ and earning recognition as the side’s Player of the Season, Soham Varshneya made the step up into the senior setup during the 2025–26 campaign.

While the midfielder admitted that adapting to the physicality and demands of first-team football initially took some adjustment, he also highlighted how previous exposure to the senior environment helped ease the transition.

He further credited the support from experienced players within the squad for helping him settle comfortably into the team.

“At the start, it was definitely a little tough adjusting to the physicality of the first team because the level is obviously much higher and everything happens a lot quicker. But overall, I think the transition has been pretty smooth for me. I got a few months last season to train with the first team regularly, and I think that experience really helped me going into this season because I already had an idea of the intensity and expectations. Everyone in the first team has also been very helpful and insightful, and they’ve constantly supported me in adapting to the environment and improving my game.”

About his successful RFDL campaign with the B team, and winning the Player of the Season with the B team.

Reflecting on Bengaluru FC’s successful Reliance Foundation Development League campaign, Soham Varshneya highlighted the strong chemistry and togetherness within the squad as one of the key reasons behind the team’s success. The midfielder also credited the coaching staff for creating a collective mentality within the group, where the focus remained firmly on the team rather than individual milestones.

“I think the thing that made us special was the camaraderie we had within the group. All of us were really close off the field, and I think that translated onto the field as well. We had really good chemistry, we combined well, and nobody was selfish while playing.A lot of credit has to go to Bibiano sir and Anoop sir as well because they created that mentality within the team. None of us were focused on stats, goals, or individual achievements, Everybody just wanted to win and do well for the team. I think that collective mindset is what really set us apart and made us such a strong side throughout the campaign.”

Biggest learnings from both the dressing room and the league

Reflecting on his first season around the senior setup, Soham Varshneya revealed that one of the biggest lessons he picked up from the experienced players within the dressing room was learning to focus on the present rather than looking too far ahead.

“I think the biggest takeaway and learning for me has been to not think too far ahead. It’s something I probably did at the start of the season, but being around the senior players in the dressing room taught me to take things day by day and game by game. I’ve learned to just come into training every day with a positive mindset, work as hard as I can in every session, and focus on improving constantly instead of worrying too much about the future. I think the biggest thing is controlling what I can control and not stressing over things that are outside of my hands.”

Message for the fans

Having experienced both the highs and lows of a demanding season, Soham Varshneya expressed his gratitude towards the Bengaluru FC supporters for their unwavering backing throughout the campaign.

The youngster acknowledged the important role the fans have played in supporting both the team and his personal journey, while also expressing confidence in the club’s ambitions moving forward.

“I think it’s the most special feeling honestly. Growing up, I was one of the fans cheering the team on from the stands, and I used to come to the Kanteerava almost every season to support Bengaluru FC. So now, to be on the pitch and hear the fans cheering for me and the team is an amazing feeling. I genuinely think we have the best fans in India because they support us no matter what. Whether it’s a small moment in the game, a bit of skill, or just effort on the pitch, they’re always behind us and always encouraging us. That support really motivates me and pushes me to keep improving every day. For me personally, it honestly feels like a dream come true”

“I’d just like to tell the fans to continue supporting us and continue being the best fans in India because they’ve supported us through both the highs and lows this entire season. Personally as well, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster journey for me, so I’m very grateful and thankful that they’ve always stood by the team and by me. The support we receive at the Kanteerava is always special, and I’d just ask them to keep supporting us the way they always do because hopefully, very soon, we’ll be competing at the biggest stage.”

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