Sanjeev Stalin signed by Portuguese outfit Sertanense FC for senior team

The club ply their trade in the Campeonato de Portugal -- third-tier football league in the country.

Sertanense FC, a club that ply their trade in the Campeonato de Portugal -- third-tier football league in Portugal, have officially announced the signing of 19-year-old Sanjeev Stalin for their senior team ahead of the upcoming 2020-21 season. The Indian full-back previously starred for the developmental team of CD Aves, another Portuguese club that plays in the Primeira Liga, the top-flight league in the country.

"We are pleased to announce another signing for the 2020-21 season, Sanjeev Stalin. 19-year-old Sanjeev is an Indian and is a left/right defender. He did his training in India and has also been a part of their national team that played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup held in the country in 2017. Wishing you all luck and success, Sanjeev Stalin!" the club's official announcement read.

As a full-back, Stalin is also capable of playing higher up on the flank. He made 28 I-League appearances for Indian Arrows in his short career so far and has also played thrice in the Super Cup.

He also turned up 31 times for the India U-17 national team and bagged three goals in that age-group. Sanjeev Stalin initially came into the spotlight when he became part of the AIFF Elite Academy batch that was preparing for the U-17 World Cup in 2017. He went on to play in the elite competition and has since represented the India U-20 team on four occasions as well.

Stalin played the 2017-18 and the 2018-19 I-League seasons for the Arrows and made a bankable number of appearances for the the AIFF’s developmental side. He was among the highly-rated starlets in the India U-17 squad that featured in the World Cup. Hence, this move comes as an excellent opportunity for the player to jump up the ladder and examine his own abilities in European football.

Having already made a mark with his transfer to Europe via his former team CD Aves, Sanjeev Stalin has become one of the few Indian players who have been handed opportunities to ply their trade in a European football league. It is widely expected that he will get more opportunities at Sertanense as well.