Mumbai City FC has secured the services of Abdenasser El Khayati, a dynamic attacking midfielder, who has inked a one-year contract with the club as a free agent. However, in a surprising twist, Mumbai City FC has decided to utilize El Khayati exclusively for the AFC Champions League, shelving his participation in the Indian Super League (ISL).
With an already impressive roster of foreign talents, including Greg Stewart, Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Alberto Noguera, Yoell van Nieff, Rostyn Griffiths, and Tiri, Mumbai City FC has exhausted its quota of six foreign players allowed in the Indian Super League. Furthermore, all six of these foreign players are currently fit to play, leaving no room for the newly acquired El Khayati in the ISL squad.
It’s important to note that this restriction is specific to the Indian Super League, as the AFC Champions League has different rules. In the AFC Champions League, teams can register a maximum of 35 players, and there are no restrictions on the number of foreign players a team can include in its roster. Therefore, Mumbai City FC plans to register Abdenasser El Khayati exclusively for their AFC Champions League campaign.
In AFC Champions League matchday squads, teams are allowed up to six foreign players, but one of them must be from an Asian country to adhere to the competition’s regulations.
El Khayati made a significant impact during his last season with ISL side Chennaiyin FC, contributing nine goals and five assists in just 12 appearances.
Mumbai City FC is optimistic that the 34-year-old midfielder will continue to excel in the AFC Champions League, where they are set to face formidable opponents such as Neymar’s Al Hilal, Iranian side Nassaji Mazandaran, and Uzbekistan’s Navbahor. Mumbai City FC’s AFC Champions League journey is set to commence on September 18th when they take on Nassaji Mazandaran at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune.
