Som Kumar joins NK Radomlje and becomes the youngest Indian footballer in Europe

Som Kumar, an Indian goalkeeper, has signed a contract with a Slovenian football team – Radomlje, competing in Prva Liga, the nation’s top-tier league. At this point, Kumar is the only Indian player playing for a European football team in the under-21 category.

The young player presents an important boost for the Slovenian team, and crypto betting sites have already changed the odds for some of its games. With crypto exchanges operating in California, it’s easy for international audiences to make bets on European football, and predictions and odds are getting more scientific by the day.

Kumar’s statement

Kumar has issued a statement about a transfer, expressing his excitement and gratitude.

“I am thrilled to join NK Radomlje and take this next step in my career. Playing in a top-flight European league is a dream come true for any Indian, and I am excited to go back to Slovenia and am eager to learn, grow, and contribute to the team’s success. I look forward to meeting the team in training.”

Kumar has also addressed his Indian team and the opportunities it provided for him:

“I would also like to take this moment to thank Kerala Blasters for showing immense belief in me and giving me the opportunity to represent and play for a prestigious club like KBFC, which is known for its pure passion. I had a great learning experience this past season. I also want to thank the management, coaching staff, my colleagues, and most importantly, the club fans who have embraced me and supported me throughout the year/season. I learned a lot from this opportunity, and I will carry these lessons with me to Europe.”

NK Radomlje

NK Radomlje is a Slovenian football team based in Radomlje. The team has operated unofficially since the 1930s, and it was officially established in 1972 by a group of local workers. It played in the minor leagues in Slovenia until the country’s independence in 1991. The team qualified for the top national league in 2014. Its supporters are called Mlinarji.

Grega Marinsek, a sports director for NK Radomlje, also issued a statement:

“Our club is very happy we could successfully sign Som. He’s a talented young goalkeeper who we have been watching since he was playing at Olimpija in Slovenia. We see great potential in Som, and we believe Som’s talent and great character will help raise the level of competition in our team. We are pleased to have signed the youngest Indian professional player from India and hope this will open more development opportunities in the Indian market and could pave the way for more talented Indian players to join us in the future.”

What’s Kumar bringing to the table?

Som Kumar, who was born in 2005, already had experience playing in the Slovenian national league. His youth career started in his hometown of Bengaluru, where he played for the local youth team. In 2020, Kumar signed for a Slovenian team – NK Bravo.

After that, Kumar signed a short-term contract with the U19 Slovenian team – Olimpia Ljubljana. In 2024, Kumar returned to India and played a season for Kerala Blasters. During his time with Kerala Blasters, Som Kumar suffered an injury after an awkward clash with Bengaluru striker Jorge Pereyra Díaz.

How’s NK Radomlje doing?

After the first 15 matches this season, Radomlje has had three wins, five draws, and seven losses, accumulating a total of 14 points. They have scored 15 goals and conceded 22, resulting in a goal difference of -7. This has placed them in the 8th spot in the league.

Som Kumar is, therefore, an important addition to the team, as it needs a boost and a change in order to recover from a bad start. It’s not yet clear how much time on the field he will get right away, but it seems the coach is eager to try him out.

To sum up

Som Kumar is a young Indian goalkeeper who just signed a contract with a Slovenian football club. He’s, at this point, the only U21 Indian player in a European club. This is his second time playing for a Slovenian team. Radomlje is a club with a long history but also one that’s doing poorly in this season.

Both the player and the team are excited about the opportunities that this transfer presents, and it remains to be seen how big a role Kumar will play in the upcoming games. Radomlje is now in the middle of the table, and things need to change to improve.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.