Three ways Hiroshi Ibusuki's signing can improve East Bengal in 2025-26 season

Hiroshi Ibusuki recently played in Australia’s A-League.

East Bengal have strengthened their frontline for the 2025-26 season with the signing of Japanese forward Hiroshi Ibusuki. Ahead of the start of the 2025 Super Cup campaign, the Red & Gold Brigade have added more experience and quality to their forward line with the signing of the 34-year-old forward.

Ibusuki has been roped in as the replacement for Dimitrios Diamantakos, who left the club after the 2025 Durand Cup campaign, which ended in an exit from the semi-final. The Japanese forward has played in multiple countries in his career, including stints in Spain before excelling in the J1 League. He most recently played in Australia and will be looking to add more quality to East Bengal’s attack.

Ibusuki is going to compete with Hamid Ahadad for the no.9 role at East Bengal. He will add something different to the Red & Gold Brigade’s attacking rhythm and someone whom Oscar Bruzon can use in a variety of situations. Here, we look at how Ibusuki’s signing can improve East Bengal in the 2025-26 season.

Also Read: East Bengal signs Japanese striker Hiroshi Ibusuki from A-League

3. Physicality factor to add more power to the attack

In the Japanese forward, East Bengal are getting a real physical powerhouse who boasts a 6’5’ height and is definitely well-built enough to be a problem for the defenders in Indian football. Ibusuki can outmuscle defenders with his physical playing style, which helps him win a lot of duels and aerial challenges with relative ease as well.

Having a gritty and burly forward up front can allow East Bengal to be able to power their way into the opposition’s final third and play some slick link-up play. Despite his size, Ibusuki is pretty good at linking up with teammates and should have a positive impact on improving the flow of East Bengal’s attacking moves.

The 34-year-old striker will look to use his height and physical prowess to win the vital duels and can be an especially prolific figure when getting to the end of the attacking chances.

2. Suited to play in two-forward formation

Oscar Bruzon has shown an affirmation towards shaping up his East Bengal side to have a two-man forward line, being quite reliant on his 4-4-2 formation. He opted to play that formation in the majority of East Bengal’s matches in the 2024-25 season, often putting Raphael Messi Bouli and Dimitrios Diamantakos as his two forwards.

Well, he has the chance of continuing to use the 4-4-2 formation or any kind of two-striker formation in the 2025-26 season with the addition of a forward like Ibusuki. The 34-year-old scored 10 goals in the A-League last season for Western United FC, and he played in a two-forward formation in many games for them.

Ibusuki showed no issues in having to pair up with a strike partner up-front, and he actually excels in having someone beside him to torment defenders. The Japanese forward’s physical prowess means that he can win aerial duels with ease, something that can help him combine with a fellow forward like Ahadad with ease.

Having two hard-working and prolific forwards like Hamid and Ibusuki should significantly raise East Bengal’s threat going forward and make them a scarier team to defend against for opponents.

1. A stronger presence in the opposition box

The unique thing about Ibusuki’s arrival at East Bengal is that he will be adding something new to their attacking prowess because of how good a box striker he’s proven himself to be. The 34-year-old, who has 38 goals in 89 A-League matches in his career, has been a pretty clinical presence over the last few years.

He should not have problems adapting to Indian football, and his heroics in Australia should give him an upper hand when facing off against the Indian teams. Ibusuki’s presence inside the opposition box can be a major confidence booster for the East Bengal players, especially the wingers and midfielders.

That is because the creative outlets of the Red & Gold Brigade now know that sending in crosses into the box can be rewarding, as the 6’5’ presence of Ibusuki is likely to thrive in the aerial battles. Not only will Ibusuki be a threat in getting to the end of crosses, but he’s also a very polished finisher who should elevate East Bengal’s final product once he finds his groove at the club.

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