SC East Bengal sign former Birmingham City midfielder Jacques Maghoma

The 32-year-old has signed a one-year deal with the Kolkata giants.

SC East Bengal have added another impressive overseas player to their squad after announcing the signing of midfielder Jacques Maghoma in a one-year deal. The 32-year-old midfielder has spent his entire career playing in England and was released by Birmingham City in the summer, but will now venture on a new journey to add a special spark to the midfield of East Bengal going forward.

“I am absolutely thrilled to start my new chapter with SC East Bengal. I have only heard good things about the club which is 100 years old, and I cannot wait to pull on the red and gold shirt and take the field in the Hero Indian Super League,” said Maghoma.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRUwKYP6GgM

“I am looking forward to joining my teammates in Goa and having a successful season with SC East Bengal. I also know the fan base of SC East Bengal and I am so eager to engage with them and repay them for the faith they have in us. As always, I will do my utmost for them.” he added.

“We welcome Jacques to SC East Bengal. He has lots of experience of playing in England and we are confident he will add to the strength of our team. We wish him all the very best and are looking forward to watching him in action,” Mr. Prashant Bangur, Joint Managing Director, Shree Cement, said.

The DR Congo international is a powerful attacking midfielder known for possessing plenty of creativity and flair to his game. A hard-working midfielder, Jacques Maghoma can act as a workhorse for his side, while adding that extra spark in attack with his eye for goal. A Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate, Jacques Maghoma never got a chance to appear for the senior team after suffering some injuries.

After leaving Spurs, he joined League Two side Burton Albion where he spent four seasons trying to help them gain promotion. His impressive work in the 2012-13 season, when he scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in League Two saw him earn a place in the League Two PFA Team of the Season.

He earned a promotion to the EFL Championship with Sheffield Wednesday, where he spent the next few years trying to make his name. After having a relatively disappointing stay at Sheffield, he joined Birmingham City in 2015 and remained an important part of the team before leaving earlier this year.

Jacques Maghoma scored 21 goals and provided 22 assists in 180 appearances for Birmingham City during his time. He also won the club's Player’s Player of the Year award in the 2017-18 season, when he scored five goals and registered seven assists for them in the Championship.

The tricky midfielder has the ability to glide past opponents, but he’s also a fighter who knows works hard defensively as well. The 32-year-old has also made 25 appearances for DR Congo and earned his trade in the international level. Having played in the competitive environment of English football, Jacques Maghoma possesses the knowledge and experience needed to succeed in the ISL.

The DR Congo international becomes East Bengal’s sixth foreign signing of the season. They have also roped in former Norwich City midfielder Anthony Pilkinton, German midfielder Matti Steinmann, former Brisbane Roar striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Scottish defender Danny Fox and Brisbane Roar centre-back Scott Neville on loan. With all these signings being in line with Robbie Fowler’s vision, it remains to be seen what Maghoma brings to the ISL next season.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Twitter and join our community on Telegram.