Top five most expensive overseas players at Hockey India League player auction

Gonzalo Peillat was the most overseas expensive signing of day 1.

The first day of the Hockey India League player auction lived up to its billing. This was a day hockey fans have been patiently waiting for, with the league having been shut down seven years ago. With the success of the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams, the league has been reinstated in a new avatar and is set to begin on 28th December.

The player auctions are going on in New Delhi, with the first two days dedicated to the men’s league and the third day for the newly launched women’s league.

On the first day, as expected, teams broke the bank for some big players as well as some relatively unknown names. Household names such as Harmanpreet Singh and Hardik Singh raked in big cash. ‘Sarpanch’ Harmanpreet was in fact the most expensive buy of the day, with the Soorma Hockey Club securing his services at a price of Rs. 78 lakhs.

Also Read: Top five most expensive Indian players at Hockey India League auction

However, there were a number of overseas stars too who earned handsome paycheques. While the performance of local players is necessary for a team’s success, the overseas players, with their skill and experience, raise the overall quality of the team.

With the best players in the world plying their trade in the league, there were intense bidding wars for a number of players. Here are the five most expensive overseas players of the day:

Top five expensive overseas players at Hockey India League player auction

5. David Harte – Rs 32 lakhs (Tamil Nadu Dragons)

The Tamil Nadu Dragon Warriors have finalized their goalkeeper for HIL 2024-25, by picking up Irishman David Harte for a price of Rs. 32 lakhs. The 36-year-old is one of the most experienced custodians in the auction pool.

A former World Number #1 goalkeeper, Harte was awarded the ‘FIH Goalkeeper of the Year’ in 2015 and 2016. He captained his team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2018 World Cup. He was also part of the outfit, which won the bronze medal in the 2015 EuroHockey Championships.

Additionally, he has prior experience of playing in the league, having plied his trade for the Dabang Mumbai from 2015 to 2017.

4. Duco Telgenkamp – Rs 36 lakhs (Tamil Nadu Dragons)

The Tamil Nadu Dragons also signed young Dutch forward Duco Telgenkamp, for a price of Rs 36 lakhs. The 22-year-old was part of the squad, which clinched the gold medal at Paris Olympics 2024. He was also part of the squads which won the gold medals in the EuroHockey Championship 2023 and the EuroHockey Junior Championship 2022.

The Dutchman has scored a total of 19 goals in 29 appearances for the senior side, which include four goals at the Olympics. Interestingly, he had courted controversy in the gold medal match, when he had made a shushing gesture in front of German goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg after scoring the decisive goal in the penalty shootout.

3. Jeremy Hayward – Rs 42 lakhs (Soorma Hockey Club)

Australian defender Jeremy Hayward was purchased at a price of Rs 42 lakhs by the Soorma Hockey Club. Considering his goal-scoring prowess too, he will form a fiery duo with Harmanpreet Singh. It is also a reunion for the two, having played together earlier in the HIL, at the Dabang Mumbai.

Jeremy Hayward has been part of a side, which has dominated field hockey for a long period. He was part of the squads which won the 2014 World Cup and clinched the silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. With more than 230 caps and having scored more than 120 goals, his experience will be a huge asset to the side.

2. Jip Janssen – Rs 54 lakhs (Tamil Nadu Dragons)

The Tamil Nadu Dragons signed another member from the Paris Olympics 2024 gold medal-winning Dutch squad, in the form of Jip Janssen. He and Amit Rohidas will be sharing duties at the back.

The Dutchman will also be their primary drag flicker. He has more than 110 caps and has scored 70+ goals. He has been in very good form recently, having scored five goals at the Paris Olympics and 15 goals in as many matches in the 2023-24 FIH Pro League, finishing as the highest goal scorer in the competition.

The Dragons were very keen to sign the 26-year-old, having done an alternate bid right from the beginning to the end.

Also Read: Hockey India League player auction: Full list of players sold, remaining purse, most expensive players

1. Gonzalo Peillat – Rs 68 lakhs (Hyderabad Toofans)

Defender Gonzalo Peillat is one of the most high-profile players in the league, and it is not a surprise that he was the most expensive overseas signing of the day. He was picked up by the Hyderabad Toofans for a price of Rs 68 lakhs.

Having plied his trade for Argentina in his initial years (until 2018), before debuting for Germany in 2022, he has been a match-winner for both sides which he played in. He was part of the Argentinian side which won the bronze medal in the 2014 World Cup and the gold medal in the 2016 Olympics. He also played a key part in Germany’s 2023 World Cup triumph as well as the silver medal in the 2024 Olympics.

The 32-year-old has played more than 150 international matches and scored more than 180 goals. At Paris too, he scored four goals, which included one in the semi-final. A world-class defender too, Peillat’s form is likely to dictate how the tournament pans out for the Toofans.

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