Three ways Boris Singh can improve East Bengal's backline in 2026-27 season

Former FC Goa star joins the Red and Gold Brigade to improve the backline

East Bengal has been able to strengthen its backline for the upcoming 2026-27 season by sealing the signing of Boris Singh. After having a bit of a shortage of options across their right-back position last season, with Mohammed Rakip having to be extensively used there, the Red & Gold Brigade have added more depth to the role with a potentially exhausting campaign in front of them.

Fortunately for the Kolkata giants, they are getting an experienced and highly motivated player in Boris to strengthen their squad. The 26-year-old, most importantly, has the experience of playing in the AFC Champions League Two as he played in the competition for the Gaurs last season – even facing Al-Nassr in two of the six matches!

Singh can be a pretty proactive full-back who is determined to constantly move up and down the pitch to dominate the wing for his side. He’ll definitely add something new to East Bengal’s defensive system and help raise the unpredictability of moving down the right flank for the Kolkata side.

Here, we look at the three ways in which Boris Singh can help improve East Bengal’s backline in the 2026-27 season.

3. More aggression in East Bengal backline

The good thing about Boris Singh is that in his five-plus years of playing in the Indian Super League (ISL) (for Jamshedpur FC and FC Goa), he hasn’t really lost that aggression that made him so impressive to watch right back from his time with the India U-17 side.

The 26-year-old full-back remains a hyper-active figure on the right wing for his side, not being fearful of lunging into challenges or taking a few risks to win the ball back in key areas.

Singh isn’t the one to try to back off whenever opposition attackers come at him, as he is smart with committing to challenges and timing his tackles just right to win the ball back for his side.

Boris can be a bit of a menace because of his pressing qualities and ability to stick close to wingers, not allowing them much room at all to manoeuvre or take the ball forward.

This aggressiveness in his game can have a positive impact on East Bengal’s defensive shape, as it can allow them to be more proactive in trying to win duels in the wide areas rather than burdening the centre-backs to make clearances to fend off danger on the majority of occasions.

If Boris can prove himself to be a reliable ball-winning defensive outlet, he can take some pressure off the centre-backs and also help add more reliability to East Bengal’s right-wing.

Also Read: Boris Singh agree terms with ISL champions East Bengal; Khaimin Lhungdim to stay at Punjab FC

2. Variety in passing qualities

In Boris Singh, East Bengal are not only getting a proactive defender but also someone who doesn’t shy away from taking control and helping move the ball from the defensive line to the attack. Last season, a lot of the Torchbearers’ tactics around playing the ball out of their backline was rested upon the likes of Anwar Ali and Jeakson Singh – who had to take control and be smart in moving the ball out of their half.

The full-backs didn’t really help all that much in terms of this ball progression, but that can now change with a confident defender like Boris in their midst. In the 2025-26 ISL, Boris boasted an 81% passing accuracy and a 42.9% long ball accuracy – showing his ability to take the ball in tricky situations and successfully pass it to an attacking player to help them move into the final third.

That itself proves how the 26-year-old has worked on his ability to maintain composure in withstanding opposition pressure and moving the ball from the backline to the opposition half with relative ease.

His passing accuracy and the variety he possess in nailing short or long passes can only be a boon for East Bengal, allowing them to move the ball out of their defensive end without major obstacles and also help improve their transition from defence to attack in a more rapid fashion.

1. Tighter marking around wide areas

Even though East Bengal had one of the best defensive records in the 2025-26 ISL campaign, conceding the joint-third lowest goals for any club – they did face a few hiccups when it came to defending against tricky, pacy wingers.

To his credit, Mohammad Rakip actually did well against adversity, but he was prone to getting outwitted and outmanoeuvred at times – causing trouble for his side. That is probably why the Torchbearers have invested in signing an energetic defender like Boris Singh – knowing how well he can deal and hold his own against unpredictable wingers.

Last season in the ISL, Boris ensured that FC Goa only conceded eight goals in the 13 matches he featured in (when he was on the field) and he helped neutralise a lot of the opposition wingers’ threat. Even though his numbers aren’t anything extraordinary, as he made 59 defensive contributions in 13 games.

Boris tends to time his challenges really well to rob wingers of possession – as he proved with 47 defensive recoveries for FC Goa in the ISL last season.

He was actually particularly impressive in FC Goa’s 0-0 draw against East Bengal last season, neutralizing the threat of the dangerous Bipin Singh – and his proactive performance from that game probably inspired the Torchbearers to sign Boris and have his positive presence in their backline for the next season.

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