Jeakson Singh leaves Kerala Blasters FC: All you need to know about the midfielder's highly-anticipated move to East Bengal FC
After weeks of speculation, or more of topsy-turvy drama, Jeakson Singh's departure from Kerala Blasters has been confirmed, meaning the midfielder is inching closer to completing his big-money move to East Bengal FC. The 23-year-old reportedly traveled to Kolkata on Thursday, July 18, from Kerala Blasters’ pre-season camp in Thailand to undergo a medical before his transfer.
Jeakson's future with the Blasters has initiated plenty of conjecture over the past few months, with the defensive midfielder at one point being slated to extend his stint with the Yellow Army. However, once it became evident that India's first and only goalscorer in a FIFA World Cup was available, fellow ISL clubs flocked around for his signature.
The Manipur-born after his successful stint in the U-17 World Cup in 2017 joined the now-defunct AIFF-owned Indian Arrows on loan from his parent club Minerva Punjab. A season later, Jeakson signed for Kerala Blasters in hopes of realizing aspirations of playing in the cash-rich ISL. Initially, he was stuck to a role in the reserve team but then went on to make his debut for the senior team in the opener of the 2019-20 season.
Since then, he has established himself as one of the leading holding midfielders in the country, making 78 appearances across five seasons in the country's top tier. At 23, Jeakson has already represented the senior national team on 22 occasions. Hence, both Jeakson and Blasters knew clubs would splurge the cash for his signature, and they did.
A backdrop on why East Bengal shifted their focus to Jeakson Singh during the transfer window
Anyone closely following East Bengal's 2023-24 season will have noticed a glaring issue - their lack of control in the midfield. Aside from Saul Crespo, no other player consistently performed, forcing coach Carles Cuadrat to frequently shuffle his midfield combinations. It wasn't surprising to see the Torchbearers entering the summer transfer window with aspirations to strengthen the position.
At first glance, the available options seemed slightly lightweight, with elite midfielders already having settled contracts. But Apuia Ralte, who had just conquered the ISL Cup with Mumbai City, set the window alight when he made himself available to move away from the champions.
With arguably the best Indian midfielder available, East Bengal rushed into the market. Ultimately, they were trumped by their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan SG and seemed to end up with an empty hand. Or so it seemed. But after the initial snub, the Red and Gold Brigade set their eagle eyes on Jeakson.
Jeakson Singh set to join East Bengal: Transfer fee, contract length, and everything else
The Jeakson Singh saga has been a topsy-turvy affair with three clubs in the race for the defensive midfielder. However, according to Khel Now, East Bengal and Kerala Blasters on Thursday successfully negotiated a deal for the Kolkata giants to acquire the midfielder for approximately ₹3.2 crore. He will sign a three-year contract, with an option for another extension.
Reportedly, the transfer fee doubled after another ISL club entered into a bidding war with the Torchbearers. If the reported transfer fee stands true, it will be a record in Indian football. For East Bengal, this shows intent, and for the Blasters, it would mean sound business.