SC East Bengal complete signing of Spanish midfielder Fran Sota

The 31-year-old is expected to reach India by Saturday, December 15.

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit SC East Bengal have completed the signing of former Osasuna youth player Fran Sota, Khel Now can confirm. The 30-year-old will arrive in India by Saturday and join his new teammates in Goa soon after.

"Fran Sota is a done deal for SCEB. He will join the club on a short-term deal till the end of the ongoing 2021-22 season. He is set to arrive in India by Saturday," sources close to the development informed Khel Now.

However, to accommodate him in their ISL squad, the Red & Gold Brigade have to part ways with one of the players in their current foreign contingent. Khel Now also understands that Amir Dervisevic is likely to leave the club to make space for the Spaniard.

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About the player

Having started his career at Osasuna, Fran Sota was a part of their reserves team in the 2009-10 season. Afterwards, he played for a number of football clubs in the lower divisions of the Spanish league system. He turned out for Pena Sport FC, CD Varea, SD Logrones, CD Tropezon, SD Leioa and Racing Ferrol before joining Calahorra CF ahead of the 2020-21 season. Overall, he has made over 280 appearances across a 12-year-long senior club career, and has notched over 30 goals and five assists.

An attacking midfielder by trade, the 31-year-old can also play as a right-winger or a left-winger if needed. Mario Rivera, the new head coach of SC East Bengal, is said to be the main man behind his arrival at the club.

SC East Bengal's season so far

The Red & Gold Brigade, under then-head coach Robbie Fowler, finished their ISL 2020-21 campaign at the ninth place on the standings. During the summer, Fowler was replaced by Manolo Diaz, but that did not change the club's fortunes.

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SC East Bengal have played in 11 matches in ongoing ISL 2021-22 season, but are yet to register their maiden win of the season. With six draws and five defeats, the Kolkata-based outfit are languishing at the bottom of the table. The club also recently decided to part ways with head coach Manolo Diaz and have brought back Mario Rivera as his replacement.

In their most recent fixtures against Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City and Jamshedpur FC, assistant coach Renedy Singh managed SC East Bengal from the sidelines. The former India international did a good job and managed to force draws against the Blues and the Islanders. Rivera's arrival, along with the entry of new signings Marcelo Ribeiro and Fran Sota is now expected to make the team stronger.

Meanwhile, central defender Franjo Prce is also on the verge of recovery from his injury, giving SC East Bengal an added boost.

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