Kerala Blasters sign Spanish midfielder Vicente Gomez

The 32-year-old has previously played for UD Las Palmas and Deportivo de La Coruna in La Liga.

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Kerala Blasters have completed the signing of Vicente Gomez, Khel Now can confirm. The Spanish midfielder will join the southerners on a deal with an option to extend.

"Vicente Gomez has signed for Kerala Blasters," a source close to the developments informed Khel Now. The central defensive midfielder has signed a contract with an option to extend, indicating that he could be a part of the Kochi-based club's long-term plans under their new Head Coach Kibu Vicuna and Sporting Director Karolis Skinkys.

Born in Las Palmas in Spain, Vicente Gomez began his senior professional footballing career with AD Huracan in 2007. A couple of years later, he signed for his hometown club UD Las Palmas, and was initially made a part of their C team that played in the Tercera Division.

Gomez was promoted to their first team ahead of the 2010-11 season, and went on to make his debut for the club on September 1, 2010. At the end of their 2014-15 campaign, Las Palmas were promoted to La Liga and in the following season, he made his Spanish top-flight debut in a 0-1 away loss against an Atletico Madrid side that featured Diego Godin, Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann among others. He continued playing with Las Palmas for three more years before joining Deportivo de La Coruna.

“I wanted to have an international soccer experience, this season. The opportunity came up, and I am excited about both, playing for the club and being a part of the Indian Super League. In the yellow of Las Palmas, I have competed in the most important stadiums in Spain, and against several of the best players in the world: Messi, Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo. Today, it is an honour for me to announce the start of a new stage in India by playing in the yellow of Kerala Blasters, my favourite colour. I am elated to be a part of my new family and have great respect towards the fans of this brilliant club. At the start of my journey, I would also like to thank Karolis and Kibu, the Sporting Director and Head Coach of the club, for placing their trust in me. Together we will try and achieve successes and titles”, said a thrilled Vicente Gomez who can’t wait to don the KBFC yellow this season.

In the past two seasons, Gomez racked up 60 appearances for La Coruna, as the club finished sixth and 19th in the Segunda division respectively. Earlier in 2020, they were relegated to the Segunda B division, following which the defensive midfielder agreed for a mutual termination of his contract that originally had one more year left with them.

On Tuesday, Vicente Gomez announced on social media that he was parting ways with the club, indicating that the switch to Kerala Blasters is imminent.

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"He’s a master of football who is going to be a big presence in our midfield. Kerala Blasters is only the third club in Vicente’s professional career. This is unbelievable consistency at that level and a guaranteed quality signing for us. I am just as excited as our supporters, about Vicente joining the club.” said Karolis Skinkys, Sporting Director, Kerala Blasters FC.

Kerala Blasters, on their part, have been on the process of executing a major squad overhaul following a string of disappointing results from the past. The same club that reached the ISL finals twice in the first three seasons, failed to make it to the play-offs since 2017 - leading to big changes in both their management and playing squad.

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