NorthEast United set to sign former Mumbai City star Hernan Santana

The 30-year-old won the ISL League Winners' Shield and Playoffs title with Mumbai City last season.

Former Mumbai City midfielder Hernan Santana is all set to complete his signing for NorthEast United and join them for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) 2021-22 season, Khel Now can confirm. The 30-year-old played the last season for MCFC on loan from Spanish second division club Sporting Gijon.

He will join the Highlanders as a free agent after his contract with Gijon expired last season. It was last week that NorthEast United offered Santana a contract after the green light from the player's representatives, following initial talks.

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"NorthEast United are all set to sign Santana. Both parties have agreed terms on a deal for the upcoming ISL season," sources close to the developments informed Khel Now.

"The defender had interests from Spain and was also offered to Kerala Blasters. But, talks did not materialise," they further added.

Hernan Santana's ISL career

Hernan Santana had joined Mumbai City on a one-year loan deal from Gijon last season. He was an influential player in the midfield for Sergio Lobera's side. Santana made 19 appearances for MCFC, including the final win over ATK Mohun Bagan. A versatile midfielder who can also slot in as a centre-back, the Spaniard was an able partner for Mourtada Fall at the heart of the Mumbai defence.

He missed only four games all season, as MCFC clinched the League Winners' Shield as well the ISL title. Santana made 41 interceptions last season, the second-highest tally among the Islanders' players. He also made 71 tackles and 17 blocks in defence, while also contributing with two goals. The Las Palmas graduate also helped Mumbai play from the back and had an impressive passing accuracy of 87.99%, with an average of 50 passes per game. Only Mourtada Fall (993) made more passes among defenders than Santana's 958 last season.

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His football journey

Hernan Santana graduated from the Las Palmas academy and made his senior debut for the Segunda Division club in 2011. He was also a part of the Palmas side that earned a promotion to LaLiga in 2015-16. Santana played 24 games in the Spanish top flight across three seasons. But, a lack of proper game-time saw him leave his boyhood club and join Sporting Gijon in January 2018. He played in the Segunda Division in the second half of the 2017-18 season and signed an additional three-year contract with the Spanish club back then.

Last summer, Santana played for Mumbai City FC on loan from Gijon and won the first title of his career.

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