Exclusive: Jerry Mawihmingthanga signs long-term contract at Odisha FC

The Juggernauts are keen to build their unit around the winger.

Odisha FC winger Jerry Mawihmingthanga has signed a new long-term contract with the club, Khel Now can confirm. There were a lot of questions raised on the young winger’s future, but he has put all those to bed by extending his stay with OFC.

"Jerry Mawihmingthanga has signed a new long-term contract at Odisha FC committing his future to the club," sources close to the developments told Khel Now.

It’s also understood that Jerry had offers from many other clubs in the ISL, but he showed loyalty towards Odisha – for whom he’s been playing since 2019. The Juggernauts are looking to re-build the team around the 24-year-old.

The Big Picture

Odisha had an extremely disappointing campaign in the 2020/21 season in the ISL, finishing at the very bottom of the table and only winning two games.

Mawihmingthanga was actually one of OFC’s best players in the 2020/21 campaign, scoring two goals and registering five assists in the campaign.

As a matter of fact, he provided the most assists among all Indian players last season, despite playing for a stuttering side. He scored a brace in the final game of the season, in which Odisha picked up a thrilling 6-5 win over SC East Bengal to end their poor campaign on a high note.

Before his journey started with Odisha, Jerry played for both NorthEast United and Jamshedpur FC in the ISL – but it was at Jamshedpur that he really began to soar. Despite only scoring one goal in his entire spell at JFC, his creativity and ability to make an impact through the right wing impressed Odisha to sign him in 2019.

He had a great debut campaign, also scoring two goals and registering five assists and was even rewarded for his heroics by winning the FPAI Young Player of the Year award. The 24-year-old will now look to take things to a higher level in the coming seasons and take Odisha FC to newer heights in the ISL – starting with a spot in the playoffs next season.

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