I-League: Penn Orji joins Mohammedan Sporting

Penn Orji with Mohammedan Sporting officials on Tuesday

After weeks of speculation regarding his future, Nigerian playmaker Penn Orji has signed for Mohammedan Sporting. Despite having several negotiations with East Bengal regarding a new contract, Penn decided to leave the red-and-gold brigade as he wasn’t willing to take a pay cut and has instead joined another Kolkata giant.

Penn becomes Mohammedan Sporting’s fourth big signing of this transfer window after the recruitments of Luciano Sobrosa, Josimar and Tolgay Ozbey although the Australian has only agreed personal terms and is yet to sign officially.

The black and whites will be playing in the I-League for the first time in four years and are the first club to recruit all four foreigners although they are yet to sign a big Indian name.

Penn, who signed for Mohammedan Sporting on Tuesday, first came to India in 2009 and had a great season for JCT before joining East Bengal in 2010 and spent three seasons there, winning seven major trophies.

However the 2012-13 campaign didn’t go well for Penn and a return to form towards the end of the season wasn’t enough to get him a new lucrative contract although much of it was down to the financial crisis at East Bengal.

Waheed Sali to MB

Meanwhile Mohun Bagan are set to sign 27-year-old central defender Waheed Sali. The Kerala-born player impressed while playing for ONGC last season and attracted interest from Prayag United also but eventually has decided to join the green-and-maroon brigade.