FC Goa rope in talented defender Anwar Ali from Delhi FC

The youngster was a part of India's FIFA U-17 World Cup team in 2017.

Highly-rated centre-back Anwar Ali has become FC Goa’s fourth new signing of the season after the defender officially became a Gaur today in a move from Delhi FC. He has been practising with the team since the beginning of the season. 

The 21-year-old former India youth international has signed an initial one-and-a-half-year contract with FC Goa after the AIFF cleared the talented youngster to resume his career in August earlier this year. 

Speaking after signing on the dotted lines, Anwar Ali said, “I am just happy that the worst part of my life is now over. This is a new chapter in my life and I want to welcome the opportunity to play football. It has been a long wait to get onto the field at the highest level. 

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“I would like to thank FC Goa at this moment for having faith in me. I have been with the team since the beginning of the season and that has helped me understand the way we play the game. 

“I was ecstatic when I got to know I was going to FC Goa. I didn’t know about it till around three days before I had to pack my bags. There is a certain excitement in the air, which I can’t put into words.”

Speaking on the signing, FC Goa’s Director of Football, Ravi Puskur said, “Anwar Ali is a very exciting prospect. He caught everyone’s eyes with his performances for the India U17 team. We have watched him flourish in the days to come with the Indian Arrows. 

“He is only 21 years old and has a wonderful future ahead of him.  He has the potential to become a difference-maker in the game. In the years to come, we hope to see him play a key role here in FC Goa and for Indian football.”

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Ali started his career with Minerva Punjab and then went on to play for the India U17 team in the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup. After good performances, the youngster was loaned to Indian Arrows for the 2017/18 season before signing with Mumbai City FC. Another loan to the Indian Arrows followed the following season. Anwar Ali was barred from playing competitive football by the AIFF in 2019 after he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition called Apical Hypercardiomyopathy (HCM)

The defender played his first game after a break of over a year for Techtro Swades United before moving on to Delhi FC via Minerva Academy. 

The youngster starred for Delhi FC in the Durand Cup and the I-League Qualifiers in 2021, scoring four goals in the latter, finishing as top scorer for his side. Sunday night’s game against Kerala Blasters thus marks Anwar’s long-awaited Indian Super League debut.

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