Kerala Blasters sign Naorem Mahesh Singh from Shillong Lajong for undisclosed fee

The 21-year-old played for the reserves team of the Kochi-based club in the 2nd Division League earlier this year.

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Kerala Blasters have completed the signing of Naorem Mahesh Singh from Shillong Lajong, Khel Now understoods. The club have paid Lajong an undisclosed fee and the young forward has now joined them on a three-year deal.

“Kerala Blasters have signed Naorem Mahesh Singh on a three-year deal from Shillong Lajong. They also paid his former club a transfer fee,” a source close to the developments informed.

A native of Manipur, Naorem began his football career in the youth team of Birchandra Memorial Sporting Club, before Shillong Lajong signed him for their youth setup. He was later promoted to their senior team and played there for a year, before Kerala Blasters Reserves came calling halfway through the 2019-20 season. He then joined them on a short-term loan deal, before returning to Lajong at the end of the campaign.

The 21-year-old made his first appearance for the Reds in the 2018-19 season. He went on to feature in all of their 20 matches that campaign and also registered four goals as well as providing three assists in the process. One of his goals — a stunning long-range bender against Aizawl FC, was regarded by many as the goal of the season.

Despite valiant efforts, Lajong got relegated to the 2nd Division League at the end of the 2018-19 season. In the following term, they decided against participating in the competition. The youngster moved to Blasters Reserves and made three appearances, notching a solitary goal against Mumbai City FC Reserves, before the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now that Kerala Blasters have made him a permanent signing, he is expected to play with their first-team next season. The Blasters themselves are in the process of a squad overhaul, spearheaded by their new Sporting DIrector Karolis Skinkys and new head coach Kibu Vicuna.

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The two-time ISL finalists are eager to put an end to their abysmal performances in the last three seasons and have already roped in players like Nishu Kumar, Albino Gomes, Sandeep Singh, Denechandra Meitei and Rohit Kumar to help them do so. They have also extended the deals of Sahal Abdul Samad, Jessel Carneiro, Abdul Hakku and a few others as a part of their long-term plans.

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