Jesin TK, three other players from Kerala sign for East Bengal

The club will play their first Calcutta Football League game on 25th September.

East Bengal has roped in four promising players from South India. Jesin TK, Adil Amal, Vishnu TM, Muhammed Nishad P, Lijo L, and Athul Unnikrishnan have signed for the Red & Gold brigade.

"All four players have undergone medicals, completed all formalities and signed a two-year contract with East Bengal," a source close to the development informed Khel Now. They will primarily feature for East Bengal in the Calcutta Football League (CFL) and will be promoted to the senior team on the basis of their performance.

About the Players

Jesin TK

The promising forward Jesin TK started his footballing career with Kerala United. He featured for the purple hornbills in the Kerala Premier League (KPL). The forward came under the limelight with his brilliant performance in the Santosh Trophy earlier this year. Jesin came in as a super-sub on several occasions to change the tide of the game.

His performance earned his state Kerala the prestigious Santhosh Trophy title and himself the golden boot award. Notably, he scored the fastest hat-trick in the history of Santosh Trophy!

Athul Unnikrishnan

Yet another promising centre-back from Kerala, Athul Unnikrishnan started his footballing career playing for the U-18 team of Mohun Bagan. He perfected his game under the tutelage of legendary footballer Jo Paul Ancheri during his stay at Bagan. Athul debuted in the KPL playing for Golden Threads FC. He later moved on to Luca SC in 2020.

While playing for Luca SC, Athul gained attention from Bino George which led to the player signing for Kerala United in 2021. He featured for the club both in the I-League qualifiers and the KPL. Although a centre-back, the 22-year-old can also be deployed in the full-back position. On 20th September, Athul and Kerala United mutually parted ways.

Muhammed Nishad P

Muhammed Nishad P is a promising goalkeeper from Kerala. He learned the basics of goalkeeping from MSP Football Academy in Kerala. The 22-year-old began his professional career with Gokulam Kerala. Primarily he played for the U-18 team and later moved up the ladder to their reserves team in 2019. The young custodian's quick reflexes and good game reading will add more value to the Red & Golds' CFL squad.

Vishnu TM

Khel Now had earlier reported about East Bengal handing a pre-contract to Vishnu TM. The 22-year-old forward played for Aryan Club in the CFL last season. Notably, he scored a hat-trick in his maiden appearance against Kidderpore. Vishnu has played for clubs like Basco and Kerala United as well.

Lijo L

Lijo L is a budding forward from Tamil Nadu. He learned the basics of the game from the Football Plus Professional Soccer Academy in Chennai. The forward featured for Travancore Royals FC in the KPL. He also enjoyed a decent Santosh Trophy campaign for Tamil Nadu. His hat-trick against Andhra Pradesh earned him the attention of fans and scouts.

Adil Amal

Adil is a defender who hails from Malappuram, Kerala. He has the experience of playing for Mar Athanasius College and MG University.

East Bengal's pre-season preparation

After acquiring the services of Stephen Constantine as the head coach and Bino George as the assistant coach, the Red & Golds are in full swing preparation for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL). Along with the ISL, East Bengal will also feature in Calcutta Football League (CFL) under the guidance of Bino George. Their first game is scheduled on 25th September against Kidderpore at the Naihati Stadium.

Ever since joining hands with their new investors, East Bengal has made many signings. Speaking of their Indian contingent, the Red & Golds have added Aniket Jadhav, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Pritam Singh, Sumeet Passi, VP Suhair, Souvik Chakrabarti, Nabi Hussain Khan, Kamaljit Singh, Naveen Kumar and many others.

The club enjoyed a decent Durand Cup 2022 campaign as well. They lost only one game - the Kolkata derby, that too courtesy an own goal from Sumeet Passi.