NorthEast United complete signing of centre-back Gaurav Bora

The 23-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the club.

NorthEast United have completed the signing of centre-back Gaurav Bora from Odisha FC, Khel Now can confirm. The 23-year-old played 13 matches in the ongoing Indian Super League 2021-22 season. He has signed a contract until May 2024 and will make the move in the summer.

"Gaurav Bora has penned a two-year deal with NorthEast United," a source close to the developments informed Khel Now. "He will officially join the club at the end of this season," the source added. Bora was an unused substitute in Odisha's penultimate match against ATK Mohun Bagan. He was also not named in the matchday squad in their last game on March 4.

He leaves Odisha FC after three seasons with the Juggernauts during which he has represented them in 41 matches. Still only 23, Bora had established himself as one of the first-choice Indian centre-backs at the club. He joined Odisha, then still Delhi Dynamos, ahead of the 2019-20 season. At the time, he had just won the I-League title with Chennai City, where he played for two seasons on loan from the now-defunct FC Pune City.

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Bora made his Odisha debut against FC Goa in a 0-3 defeat on December 22, 2019. He played 10 consecutive matches for the Juggernauts since his debut in the 2019-20 Indian Super League season. The next year, he featured in each of Odisha's league stage games, barring two, as the Juggernauts finished with the wooden spoon.

His development continued this season, as his good form coincided with Odisha's bright start to the campaign, with three wins in their opening four games. However, it all once again fell apart with the Juggernauts eventually finishing seventh, with just six wins in 20 matches.

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NorthEast United in ISL 2021-22

While Bora's last team finished seventh in the points table, his latest ended their campaign at 10th in an 11-team league. After the highs of last season, NorthEast United once again hit rock bottom this year. The Highlanders managed just three wins and have been embroiled in controversy, with head coach Khalid Jamil lashing out at the club for not backing him.

However, recently Khel Now have confirmed what led to the conflict between Jamil and the players and the effects of it on their performances.

After the disappointments of this season, NorthEast United have already started rebuilding the team. While Bora is their latest signing, the club are also in talks with other players.

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