East Bengal FC announce departures of five players, including Victor Vazquez and Felicio Brown
Following a disappointing end to their Indian Super League season, East Bengal FC has already started revamping their squad for the upcoming season. The club announced the departures of five players on Saturday, June 8, including Mandar Rao Dessai, Felicio Brown Forbes, Victor Vazquez, Aleksandar Pantić, and Ajay Chhetri, whose contracts expired at the end of May.
Dessai, who joined at the start of last season, played a crucial role in Carles Cuadrat’s plans, particularly early in the season. He made 24 appearances across all competitions and is widely reported to be joining Chennaiyin FC as a replacement for Akash Sangwan.
Forbes, Vazquez, and Pantić arrived in the winter transfer window to address East Bengal’s injury issues. Despite high expectations, the trio failed to make an immediate impact. Brown just scored once in 10 appearances while Vazquez and Pantić featured in 10 and eight games, respectively.
Meanwhile, Ajay Chhetri, who rejoined the club on loan from Bengaluru FC in the summer, became a key member of the team in the latter half of the season. His early goal in the Kolkata derby at a packed Salt Lake Stadium was a standout moment while he also played a key role in East Bengal’s Super Cup success.
East Bengal FC will be looking add quality depth ahead of the 2024-25 season
East Bengal are poised to be active in the transfer market as they prepare for a demanding season with four competitions. Their Super Cup victory has secured them a spot in the AFC Champions League 2 qualifiers, which is set to begin in August.
The club has already made a huge signing in Madih Talal, the French attacking midfielder who impressed during the second half of the ISL season with Punjab FC. Talal scored six goals and provided 10 assists, which was the highest in the league last season.
In addition, East Bengal have strengthened their attack by adding Dimitrios Diamantakos to their ranks. The Greek forward, the joint-highest scorer in the league last season, joins the club after netting 28 goals in 44 appearances for Kerala Blasters.
The Red and Gold Brigade will retain key foreign players - Cleiton Silva, Saul Crespo, and Hijazi Maher - who were instrumental last season. Their solid Indian attacking unit also includes national team regulars, Naorem Mahesh Singh and Nandhakumar Sekar.
Midfield reinforcement is a priority, and although they have been linked with Mumbai City FC’s Apuia and Chennaiyin FC’s Jiteshwor Singh, both are likely to stay with their current clubs.
Manager Carles Cuadrat will aim to finalize his signings before the start of pre-season to ensure the team is well-prepared for the busy schedule ahead.