ISL: Bengaluru FC sign Hira Mondal from East Bengal on a two-year deal

Indian Super League (ISL) side, Bengaluru FC on Tuesday confirmed the signing of full-back, Hira Mondal from East Bengal on a two-year deal, which will see him stay with the Blues until the end of the 2023-24 season.

Mondal has established himself as one of the best full-backs in the country following a string of stellar performances for Mohammedan SC, which saw him being named in the 2020/21 I-League Team of the Season.

Mondal signed a one-year deal with SC East Bengal in 2021 and was a standout performer in what was a rather difficult season for the Red And Gold brigade, one in which they finished bottom - with it coming as a surprise to many that they let him go considering that he was consistent on the field.

"I'm really very happy to join Bengaluru FC, a team that has been among the most successful in the last decade of Indian football. The core of the Indian National team plays for BFC, and to think that I will be able to share a dressing room with them is an amazing feeling. I want to make the most of this experience and give my best both on and off the pitch," Mondal said on signing for Bengaluru FC.

"Hira is a player who has consistently improved his game over the last few years, and is someone we had set our sights on for some time now. We are very happy to have him join our squad ahead of the new season. He had a fantastic year with SC East Bengal, and we are certain that he will play a big part in the team we are building - one that's centred around young talent," said club CEO, Mandar Tamhane.

The 25-year-old becomes the Blues fifth signing so far under Simon Grayson, following the acquisitions of Prabir Das, Javi Hernandez, Faisal Ali and Amrit Gope.