As the 2024-25 season in Indian football begins with the Durand Cup on July 27, the clubs are busy preparing their squads for the tournament.
Meanwhile, Indian National team defender Anwar Ali has moved to East Bengal after completing a one-year loan with Mohun Bagan. The center-back signed a five-year contract with the Red-and-Gold Brigade last night.
Anwar Ali faced some issues with his transfer from Mohun Bagan. He had been playing for the Mariners since last season, moving to Kolkata on a four-year loan from Delhi FC.
However, according to new rules set by FIFA, a player cannot be loaned for more than a year. This meant Anwar had to end his loan spell by the end of the next season.
FIFA approved these rules in March 2022, at the 72nd Congress in Doha. They gave clubs around the world some time to follow the new regulations.
“At the domestic level, FIFA’s member associations will be given three years to make rules for a loan system that matches the international level,” said a statement.
In Anwar’s case, that period would have finished next year. However, the player wrote to the club to end the loan early and asked for a permanent move, which eventually happened.
Anwar was part of the Indian team that played in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He made his senior team debut in March 2022 and has become a key player for the National team, partnering with Sandesh Jhingan as center-back.
He has won three trophies with the Blue Tigers so far: the Tri-Nations tournament, the Intercontinental Cup, and the SAFF Championship.
At the club level, he was important for Mohun Bagan in the 2023-24 season, playing 26 times for the club, scoring three goals and making one assist. He also helped win the Durand Cup and the Indian Super League Shield.
Anwar is East Bengal’s eighth signing before the season starts. The club has already signed Dimitrios Diamantakos (Golden Boot winner in the Indian Super League last season), David Lalhansanga (Durand Cup 2023’s top scorer), Madih Talal, and Debjit Majumder among other notable signings.
