Sandhu joins Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC completed a major signing for the 2017-18 campaign, roping in national team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu on a year-long deal from Norwegian side Stabaek FC for an undisclosed transfer fee, the club announced on Thursday.

While securing the services of India’s No 1 goalkeeper, Bengaluru have managed to complete the official paperwork in time for him to be part of the 2017 AFC Cup campaign. The Chandigarh player will be available for selection for the home leg of the crucial inter-zonal semifinal against North Korean side April 25 SC on August 23.

Gurpreet who completed formalities on a one-year deal on Wednesday night, becomes the first Indian player to be signed from a foreign club by an Indian club in a move involving a transfer fee.

Having spent close to four years at the Norwegian club as an understudy to the first choice ‘keeper Sayouba Mandé, the Indian international was keen on moving to a club where he could get more game time. Gurpreet was in talks with Portuguese first division side Boavista FC, but with that deal not coming through, the 25-year-old chose to head back to India and join Bengaluru.

While Gurpreet’s participation in the AFC Cup is certain, Bengaluru could also feature him in their squad for the Indian Super League (ISL), the club’s Chief Technical Officer Mandar Tamhane confirmed. The doubt arose as he was not part of the ISL draft.

“He will be part of the ISL but how and when only time will tell,” he said. “The rules are very clear. The main thing is to understand the rules and then work according to it. ”

Gurpreet could play for Bengaluru from the sixth round of games, as the club has the right to include him in the squad.

However, the he could also be available for selection from the first game if any of the three goalkeepers in the Bengaluru side pick a minor injury ahead of their first ISL tie. In this case, Bengaluru can bring in Gurpreet as a replacement.

But, the third and most likely scenario will be to register him as an additional player. Bengaluru have retained four players and bought another 12 Indians in the ISL player draft. And with every club having an option to sign a minimum of two additional players with the maximum number of Indians per squad being 18, Bengaluru could exercise this right to get Gurpreet into the ISL fold.

The ’keeper, who arrived on Thursday, was ecstatic ahead of the newest chapter in his career. “I’m extremely delighted to have signed for Bengaluru FC. While the experience of playing in Europe was fantastic, lack of game time was an important factor in making the decision of moving back to India. I had an offer from another top-flight club in Europe, but the need to play regularly ahead of the AFC Asian Cup in 2019 was something that was on my mind.”