HYDERABAD, INDIA: Indian football clubs, especially in the Indian Super League (ISL), reveal their plans for the upcoming season in the summer transfer window. For some, it is about strengthening a squad that already had depth. For others, it is about correcting the mistakes of the previous campaign. Then there are clubs that change head coaches and, with them, their entire philosophy.
The 2026-27 ISL summer transfer window had a little bit of everything. There were surprise moves between title rivals, major leadership departures, ambitious foreign signings and clubs choosing to invest in younger Indian players. And, most unusually, there was a new ISL entrant that acquired an existing Indian football club’s sporting licence and inherited part of its squad structure.
With the ISL’s transfer window having closed on August 31, here is how all 13 clubs have shaped up for the new season:
Mohun Bagan Super Giant: Building a squad worthy of an ISL title
Defender Rahul Bheke arrived from Bengaluru FC, bringing experience and leadership into a squad that also saw Samir Zeljkovic, Miguel Figueira, Sayan Banerjee, Alex Saji and Dejan Drazic arrive. These players strengthened different areas of the squad, while Scottish striker Lee Erwin gives the Mariners another physical presence in attack.
Erwin’s arrival in Indian football was particularly interesting. The Scotsman had been linked with Chennaiyin FC before Mohun Bagan hijacked the deal and secured him on a one-year deal. The arrivals assume all the more significance because of the man who has been asked to put the squad together. Panagiotis Dilmperis left Punjab FC to take charge of Mohun Bagan, giving him a squad that already possesses ISL-winning quality. But the club did not stop there.
Nobody expected Lallianzuala Chhangte to leave Mumbai City for Mohun Bagan, but that is exactly what happened. The Mariners‘ acquisition of one of the most dangerous Indian attackers in Indian football was arguably the statement signing of the window. It not only strengthens Mohun Bagan’s attack but also takes a proven match-winner away from one of their main rivals in the ISL.
IN: Rahul Bheke, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Samir Zeljkovic, Miguel Figueira, Sayan Banerjee, Alex Saji and Dejan Drazic, Lee Erwin.
OUT: Robson Robinho, Jason Cummings, Tom Aldred, Dimitri Petratos, Dippendu Biswas and Amey Ranawade.
East Bengal: Defending champions, but starting another chapter in Indian football
East Bengal enter the Indian football season as defending champions of the ISL (they also won the Durand Cup recently), but the team that lifted the trophy will not be the same defending it. The most significant change came in the dugout, where Antonio López Habas replaced Oscar Bruzon as head coach.
That alone changes the complexion of the side. Habas brings vast Indian football experience and a reputation for building tactically disciplined teams in the ISL, but he also has to work around some major departures. The champions lost Miguel Figueira, the ISL’s Golden Ball winner last season, along with Youssef Ezzejjari, the Golden Boot winner, while Sayan Banerjee and Mark Zothanpuia also departed.
The Torchbearers responded by bringing in Rohit Danu, Hardik Bhatt, Boris Singh, Danish Farooq, Dani Ramírez, Nacho Monsalve, Nsungusi Effiong, Chris Ikonomidis and Diego Živulić. The ISL champions, therefore, are not merely defending a title. Habas is being asked to build the next version of East Bengal.
IN: Rohit Danu, Hardik Bhatt, Boris Singh, Danish Farooq, Dani Ramírez, Nacho Monsalve, Nsungusi Effiong, Chris Ikonomidis, Raynier Fernandes, Narender Gehlot, Diego Živulić, Rohit Kumar, Sandip Mandi, Ake Arnaud and Phurba Lachenpa.
OUT: Youssef Ezzejari, Miguel Ferreira, Sayan Banerjee, Mark Zothanpuia, Nandhakumar Sekar, Kevin Sibille, Provat Lakra, Anton Sojberg and Debjit Majumder.
Bengaluru FC: Young talent for the future, Sunil Chhetri for the present
Bengaluru FC’s summer in the ISL transfer window has been about something bigger than simply replacing their departures. The club appear to be planning for their future in Indian football. The biggest loss was Rahul Bheke, who moved to Mohun Bagan. Bheke had become one of Bengaluru’s senior figures and an important leader in the dressing room. Losing him therefore meant losing more than a defender.
But the Blues have responded by investing in a younger group while also adding experience around them by extending Soham Varshneya, Harsh Palande and Vinith Venakatesh. Meanwhile, Borja Martínez, Sandro Embalo, Manuel de Iriondo, Menno Koch and Mihailo Perović have arrived, with the recruitment giving the squad more depth across defence, midfield and attack. Menno Koch, in particular, brings substantial European experience to a backline that has lost Bheke.
The most important decision, however, may have been the one Bengaluru made with the most experienced player of Indian football. Sunil Chhetri has been given a contract extension. At a time when the club are investing in the next generation, Bengaluru have chosen to keep their most experienced leader around for another season. That is a fine balance. Overseeing this transition is Pep Muñoz, who now gets a full season to shape Bengaluru after taking charge towards the end of the previous campaign.
IN: Borja Martínez, Sandro Embalo, Manuel de Iriondo, Menno Koch and Mihailo Perović.
OUT: Rahul Bheke, Namgyal Bhutia, Halicharan Narzary, Braian Sanchez and Mohammed Salah.
Mumbai City FC: A new era after the Chhangte shock
The biggest talking point around Mumbai City, quite obviously, was Chhangte’s departure to Mohun Bagan. But the Islanders‘ summer goes much deeper than that. Mumbai appointed Manolo Márquez as their new head coach and have reshaped the squad around him. Carlos Delgado, Sergio Llamas, Leandro Otormín and Wilmar Jordán Gil are among the notable additions, giving Márquez more experience, creativity and attacking variety.
Several familiar faces in Indian football, including Phurba Lachenpa, Joni Kauko, Jorge Ortiz and Jorge Pereyra Díaz, have moved on. Mumbai are therefore entering a new phase. Chhangte is gone, Manolo has arrived, and many new players have been brought in to fit his vision. The question, therefore, is whether the new-look Islanders can quickly find the chemistry that made them one of the league’s most dangerous sides in previous seasons.
IN: Carlos Delgado, Sergio Llamas, Leandro Otormín, Ashish Sibi, Muhammad Ajsal and Wilmar Jordán Gil.
OUT: Lallianzuala Chhangte, Phurba Lachenpa, Joni Kauko, Nuno Reis, Ayush Chhikara, Sanjeev Stalin, Jorge Ortiz and Jorge Pereyra Díaz.
Punjab FC: Dermitzakis takes over a project in transition
Punjab FC saw coach Panagiotis Dilmperis move to Mohun Bagan, which forced the club to begin another chapter. They responded by appointing Pavlos Dermitzakis on a two-year contract. Dermitzakis now inherits a squad that has undergone considerable movement, with Alfred Planas Moya, Mohammad Inam, Gurkirat Singh, Nishchal Chandan, Raphaël Messi Bouli and Patrick Bahanack arriving.
There has been significant turnover in the other direction too, with Samir Zeljkovic, Bede Osuji, Pramveer Singh, Dani Ramírez, Ranjeet Pandre and Nsungusi Effiong departing. Punjab have, however, retained important Indian football players including Arshdeep Singh, Lhungdim and Nikhil Prabhu.
IN: Alfred Planas Moya, Mohammad Inam, Gurkirat Singh, Nishchal Chandan, Raphaël Messi Bouli and Patrick Bahanack.
OUT: Samir Zeljkovic, Bede Osuji, Pramveer Singh, Dani Ramírez, Ranjeet Pandre, Pablo Santos and Nsungusi Effiong.
FC Goa: Continuity through a new voice
FC Goa also changed coaches, but chose a very different route. With Manolo Márquez moving to Mumbai City, the Gaurs promoted Indian football coach Gouramangi Singh from within their structure. That gives the club a degree of continuity despite the change.
The squad has also been refreshed, with Alex Vallejo, Francisco Feuillassier, Alex Zalaya, Isak Ralte and Chiki Borrego Isabel among the additions, while several familiar players have departed. The continued presence of Sandesh Jhingan gives Gouramangi an experienced leader around whom to build in the ISL.
IN: Alex Vallejo, Francisco Feuillassier (Franchu), Alex Zalaya, Isak Ralte, Rudra Ved, Saveme Tariang, KC Malsawmsanga, Tomba Singh, Haodamlian Vaiphei and Chiki Borrego Isabel.
OUT: Dejan Drazic, Pol Moreno, Boris Singh, Brison Fernandes, Ayush Chhetri, Abdul Rabeeh, Raynier Fernandes, Glan Martins, Hrithik Tiwari and Daniel Lahlimpua.
Chennaiyin FC: No room for another bottom-place finish
Chennaiyin FC had little choice but to make major changes after finishing 13th last season. They responded by bringing in Brison Fernandes, Ayush Chhetri, Nuno Reis, Glan Martins, Namgyal Bhutia, Nikola Stojanovic, Muhammed Saheef, Bryce Miranda, Madih Talal, Dippendu Biswas, Emmanuel Imanishimwe and Ramon Tanque.
The departures have been just as extensive. Imran Khan, Mandar Rao Dessai, Alberto Noguera, Gurkirat Singh, Elsinho, Jitendra Singh, Mohammed Ali Bemammer, Inigo Martin, Chima Chukwu, Laldinliana Renthlei, Eduardo Santos, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Pritam Kotal and Ankit Mukherjee have all moved on.
Kotal’s departure is particularly significant given his experience and leadership in Indian football before his move to Sreenidi Deccan. The result is a squad that looks considerably stronger on paper than the one that finished 13th in the ISL. The additions give coach Clifford Miranda more options and competition for places, while players such as Glan Martins and Nuno Reis bring valuable Indian football experience.
IN: Brison Fernandes, Ayush Chhetri, Nuno Reis, Glan Martins, Namgyal Bhutia, Nikola Stojanovic, Muhammed Saheef, Bryce Miranda, Madih Talal, Dippendu Biswas, Emmanuel Imanishimwe, Shubham Rawat and Ramon Tanque.
OUT: Imran Khan, Mandar Rao Dessai, Alberto Noguera, Gurkirat Singh, Elsinho, Jitendra Singh, Mohammed Ali Bemammer, Inigo Martin, Chima Chukwu, Laldinliana Renthlei, Eduardo Santos, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Pritam Kotal, Raj Basfore and Ankit Mukherjee.
NorthEast United FC: Giving Benali more weapons
NorthEast United FC have concentrated on depth rather than one headline-grabbing Indian football signing. Nikola Ninković, Antonio Moyano, Eneko Satrústegui, Ethyan González and Abdul Rabeeh are among the additions, while Alaaeddine Ajaraie returns to the setup.
The Highlanders have also added more Indian football depth late in the window, with Nikhil Barla, Aman CK and P Ankith joining from the Jamshedpur setup. At the same time, Thoi Singh, Andy Rodríguez, Miguel Zabaco and Jairo Samperio have moved on, while Lalbiakdika has gone out on loan.
Extensions for Asheer Akhtar, Robin Yadav and Dipesh Chauhan have helped preserve some continuity. With Juan Pedro Benali continuing as coach ahead of the ISL, the aim appears to be improving the squad around an established project in Indian football rather than starting from scratch.
IN: Nikola Ninković, Antonio Moyano, Eneko Satrústegui, Ethyan González, Abdul Rabeeh, Nikhil Barla, Aman CK, Pramveer, Mark Zothanpuia and Mohanraj K.
OUT: Thoi Singh, Andy Rodríguez, Miguel Zabaco, Jairo Samperio and P Ankith (loan).
Odisha FC: Addressing the weaknesses
Odisha’s ISL recruitment has largely focused on filling gaps. Giorgi Aburjania gives the midfield greater experience and control, while established Indian football players such as Nihal Sudeesh, Imran Khan, Sachin Suresh and Nandhakumar Sekar add depth across the squad. Stephen Eze has also arrived. The club have also lost experienced players, including Carlos Delgado and Hugo Boumous.
The interesting part of Odisha’s rebuild is therefore not necessarily one blockbuster signing. It is the overall change in the profile of the squad. The club appear willing to trust a younger group of Indian football players and give them greater responsibility, rather than constantly looking outside the country for ready-made solutions. A young squad can bring energy and unpredictability, but the burden will be on the experienced players in the group to provide the stability needed over a long ISL campaign.
IN: Nihal Sudeesh, Hrithik Tiwari, Imran Khan, Sachin Suresh, Nandhakumar Sekar, Aashir V and Stephen Eze.
OUT: Hugo Boumous, Isak Ralte, Rohit Kumar and Carlos Delgado.
Kerala Blasters: Westwood gets the chance to rebuild
Kerala Blasters have seen little movement as compared to others in this Indian football summer. Adrian Luna returned from loan, while the club also dealt with the departures of Danish Farooq, Francisco Feuillassier, Nihal Sudeesh, Muhammed Saheef, Sachin Suresh, Muhammed Ajsal, Kevin Yoke and Marlon Roos Trujillo, with Noah Sadaoui also leaving permanently.
That leaves Ashley Westwood with a squad that looks considerably different from the one he inherited. The Blasters have therefore chosen a degree of reset rather than simply adding around an established Indian football core. Westwood’s job now is to turn that turnover into a settled side capable of competing consistently. They are yet to make any major signings ahead of the ISL.
IN: None so far.
OUT: Danish Farooq, Francisco Feuillassier, Nihal Sudeesh, Muhammed Saheef, Sachin Suresh, Muhammed Ajsal, Kevin Yoke and Marlon Roos Trujillo.
Sporting Club Delhi: Growing into the league
Sporting Club Delhi have taken a more measured approach to the window in Indian football. They have added David Richard Ndayishimiye, Duván Viáfara, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Diamond Singh, Rodriguinho and Nduka Junior, while also retaining several players from their existing core.
The club, however, have lost Alex Saji, Julio Rivas, Muhammed Rafi, Karanjit Singh, Abdul Hudu, Devendra Murgaokar, Ousmane Fane, Isaac Vanmalsawma and Ebenezer Amoh, but have retained important players such as Mohammed Aimen, Mohammed Azhar, Nora Fernandes, Gogou, Joseph Sunny and Ashutosh Mehta. Thomas Tchórz will continue leading the side as head coach in the ISL.
IN: David Richard Ndayishimiye, Duván Viáfara, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Diamond Singh, Rodriguinho, Juan Pena and Nduka Junior.
OUT: Rafael Ribeiro, Alex Saji, Julio Rivas, Muhammed Rafi, Karanjit Singh, Abdul Hudu, Devendra Murgaokar, Ousmane Fane, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Matija Babovic and Ebenezer Amoh.
Inter Kashi: Losing the players who kept the project alive
Inter Kashi’s summer has been defined more by departures than arrivals. Alfred Planas Moya, Tomba Singh, Nishchal Chandan, Rohit Danu and Sergio Llamas have all moved on. That leaves Inter Kashi needing to replace several players who were central to their project.
It also means a project which had attracted attention for its young talent has been forced into another rebuild. With their coaching situation also changing following Antonio López Habas’ move to East Bengal ahead of the ISL, this could be one of the more difficult rebuilds in Indian football.
IN: None so far.
OUT: Alfred Planas Moya, Tomba Singh, Nishchal Chandan, Rohit Danu and Sergio Llamas.
Churchill Brothers: An unusual route into the ISL
Churchill Brothers’ entry into the ISL is unlike any other club’s in Indian football. The Goan side acquired Jamshedpur FC’s sporting licence after the latter exited the competition, inheriting the contracts of 12 players and two coaches in the process.
They have still added to the squad, including Dramane Salou, a midfielder from Burkina Faso, while Dimitris Dimitriou has been retained as head coach for the club’s ISL debut. Now comes the difficult part: turning an inherited ISL structure into a team that genuinely feels like Churchill Brothers.
IN: Trijoy Dias, Kingsley Fernandes and Dramane Salou.
OUT: Kinesh Singh.
Readers will remember that although the summer transfer window has ended, ISL clubs can still sign free agents throughout the year. Clubs can also make use of the winter transfer window from 1 January 2027 to 31 January 2027 to bolster their squads.
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