East Bengal FC has announced the signing of winger Nandhakumar Sekar on a three-year contract.
In the last season, Sekar had a great run with Odisha FC as he playing a crucial role in their maiden Super Cup triumph, their maiden Indian Super League (ISL) playoff qualification and their first-ever entry into the AFC Cup.
“We are very excited to welcome Nandha to the Emami East Bengal family. He had a stellar performance last season and we are confident he will reach even greater heights under the watchful guidance of Coach Carles and his staff,” said Debabrata Mukherjee of Emami Group on Nandha’s recruitment.
East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat reckoned that Nandha’s addition will bolster his team’s attacking prowess.
“We are pleased to bring Nandhakumar on board. He is someone who has gradually improved over the years and is currently in the prime of his career. He was fantastic last season, in both ISL and the Super Cup, and played a massive role in Odisha FC’s Super Cup victory. I am sure that he will add a lot of value to our attack,” said Cuadrat.
Sekar, 27, featured in 95 percent of Odisha’s games last season and finished with over 15 goal contributions, including 11 goals across all competitions. In the process, the winger also became the third-highest Indian scorer in ISL 2022-23 and the leading Indian scorer in Hero Super Cup 2023.
The Salem-based winger produced six goals and one assist in 20 ISL matches last season as his club secured a top-six finish and advanced into the playoffs for the first time since their inception. Meanwhile, his back to back terrific performance also saw him earning his maiden senior national team call-up for the ongoing Intercontinental Cup and the upcoming SAFF Championship.
Commenting on his association, an elated Sekar said: “Every footballer in the country dreams of playing for a big club like East Bengal. I am in that phase of my career where I want to embrace new challenges and take my game to the next level.”
“I scored my first goal in professional football against East Bengal while playing for Chennai City FC in 2017. Now, as I have gotten a chance to represent this historic club, I want to give my best and help my team reach new heights. I can’t wait to wear the Red & Gold jersey and feel the love of the fans,” he added.
Having risen through the youth ranks of the Chennai-based outfit Hindustan Eagles, Nandha made his professional debut with Chennai City FC during the 2017-18 I-League. The following season, the talented winger joined the now-defunct Delhi Dynamos FC on a one-year loan deal before the franchise relocated its home base to Odisha.
During his five-year spell at Odisha FC between 2018 and 2023, Nandha scored 9 goals and made 7 assists in 73 ISL appearances.