Princeton Rebello inks multi-year contract extension with FC Goa

The youngster also featured for the Gaurs in ACL 2021.

Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa have handed a three-year contract extension to Goan midfielder Princeton Rebello. The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on the new deal which will keep him with the Gaurs until 2024, Khel Now can confirm. His original contract was until 2022, but FC Goa handed him an extension in March itself.

“Rebello has signed a three-year extension on his contract with FC Goa. He joined them ahead of the 2019-20 season on a two-year deal. The terms to extend were agreed upon post the ISL 2020-21 season,” a source close to the developments informed Khel Now.

About the player

Princeton Rebello is a household name in Goa’s football circuit. However, it was just last season when he got multiple big opportunities to showcase what he is all about. And he did live up to the expectations. His game reading skills, trickiness with the ball and quick reactions were what stood out last season.

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The Betalbatim-born playmaker was a superstar in Goa’s youth leagues and won quite a few accolades during the initial stages of his football journey. Rebello is one of those countable Indians who have tasted the grassroots of overseas football during his short spell in England. The 22-year-old joined the U-15 side for Queens Park Rangers in 2014 and stayed there for six months. Before moving back to Old Blighty, Rebello joined the AIFF’s Elite Academy in Goa.

Queens Park Rangers sent him on trial to fellow English club Watford, as he was only able to get a six-month permit. The Hornets also offered him a chance in their academy. However, to make it happen, Rebello had to concede his Indian passport and attain Portuguese citizenship. This didn’t seem right to him and therefore, he returned to India.

After a short spell in England, the Goan native returned to the Goa Pro League to team up with his former coach Eban Mesquita at Vasco. During his time there, Princeton Rebello was sensational and had a total of nine goal contributions (three goals, six assists).

FC Goa recruited him into their developmental squad in 2017 following his good run in the domestic campaign. They then loaned him out to the Indian Arrows the following season. In the 2019-20 season, Rebello was called up by then FC Goa head coach Sergio Lobera to train with the first-team and was also handed eight appearances off the bench.

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Rebello was registered as a first-team player following the change in the hot-seat. He became one of Juan Ferrando’s trusted assets and made 17 appearances for the Goan side last season. Princeton also had a major role to play in FC Goa’s AFC Champions League campaign. And by doing so he became one of those countable Indians to taste the top tier Asian club football.

FC Goa's pre-season preparations

The Gaurs have hit the ground running for the eighth edition of the ISL. They have started their pre-season training under the supervision of head coach Juan Ferrando. In terms of recruitment, the club have called back their prodigy Muhammed Nemil from Spain. And have also roped in left-footed centre-back Kunal Kandaikar.

FC Goa are still in the market for a foreign striker and a defender. Furthermore, Brandon Fernandes, Glan Martins, Aibanbha Dohling, Sanson Pereira and Savior Gama have penned new multi-year deals with the club.

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