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

Gonzalo Peillat was the most overseas expensive signing.

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.

The auction for the men’s tournament went on for two days with teams engaged in bidding war, arguments to sign the player of the choice. While some landed their first-choice options after winning the bids, there were also teams that often fell off in the bidding war and had to settle for “Plan B.”

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 pay cheques. 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. Victor Wegnez – Rs 40 Lakhs (Soorma Hockey Club)

Belgian Victor Wegnez was bought by Soorma Hockey Club, for a price of Rs. 40 lakhs. The 28-year-old has been an integral part of the Belgian set-up for a very long time, having had more than 175 appearances for the senior team.

He was part of the outfits which clinched the gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, won the 2018 World Cup and ended as runners-up in the 2023 World Cup.

Wegnez is a brilliant first rusher during penalty corners. There aren’t too many who are as brave as him in running towards balls launched at more than 100 kmph. He can occasionally also be used as a goal scoring option, as shown by his tally of 16 goals in the international circuit.

4. Lars Balk – Rs 40 lakhs (UP Rudras)

The UP Rudras snapped up defender Lars Balk in the auction, at price of Rs. 40 lakhs. The 28-year-old has played more than 140 matches for the Netherlands senior side.

He was also in demand, considering that he was part of the squad which won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. He was also part of the set-up, which ended up as the runners up in the 2018 World Cup and won the gold medal in two European Championships (2021 and 2023).

Balk is not known for scoring goals via drag-flicks, unlike many other defenders. However, he is extremely solid at the back and is a big menace for attacking midfielders and forwards. The Rudras will feel assured that as long as Balk is on the field, the opposition will have to sweat hard to score.

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: Top 10 most expensive players at Hockey India League auction

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. 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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