Indian Super League franchise NorthEast United FC have announced the signing of trio, goalkeeper Pawan Kumar, defender Gurwinder Singh and attacking midfielder Kivi Zhimoni.
The announcement of the signing of the above trio came after NorthEast United FC announced the signing of winger Nikhil Kadam.
28 year old Gurdaspur-born Pawan Kumar started to play football locally before going to the JCT Football Academy in Phagwara.
Pawan made his professional debut for the JCT senior team in the 2010/11 season before going on to play for Air India (2011-12), Salgaocar FC (2012-13), and Bengaluru FC (2013-15) in the I-League before shifting to Indian Super League side Chennaiyin FC in 2015 to lift two ISL titles as second goalkeeper, while also playing for Mumbai FC on loan in the 2016 I-League.
Now Pawan Kumar moves to NorthEast United FC to try and become the teams number one goalkeeper.
32 year old Jalandhar-born Gurwinder Singh is another Punjabi footballer to join NorthEast United FC for ISL-5.
Like Pawan Kumar, Gurwinder Singh is a product of the JCT Football Academy in Phagwara and he went on to play from 2005 to 2010 with the JCT senior team before making a shift to Kolkata giants East Bengal Club, where he played over the last eight years. He spend time on loan with Kerala Blasters in the ISL in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
As an experienced defender, NorthEast United FC will hope that Gurwinder Singh brings in much needed composure at the heart of defence.
22 year old Dimapur-born Kivi Zhimoni after his breakthrough season with Gokulam Kerala FC in the 2017/18 I-League now has become the first footballer from Nagaland to sign for an ISL club.
Kivi Zhimoni started his career with the State Football Academy in Diapur and then went on to play for Rangdajied United FC and Mohammedan Sporting Club.
Currently Kivi Zhimoni is at the India camp for the upcoming 2018 SAFF Cup in Dhaka and one will have to wait to see if his incredible growth continues as the pressures of the ISL and playing in the NorthEast will be different then in the I-League and for Gokulam Kerala FC.