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Much like the trend worldwide, the winter transfer window in the I-League is generally quiet compared to the one in the summer. But this season, Salgaocar are set to sign former Singapore international John Wilkinson and former Prayag United striker Josimar, while East Bengal are close to signing their fourth foreigner in Australian Andrew Barisic.
Sportskeeda lists five previous notable signings in the I-League winter transfer window, which usually runs between the middle of January and February.
Densil Theobald (Joined Dempo in January 2012)
The 2006 Trinidad & Tobago World Cupper held talks with Dempo coach Armando Colaco during the Indian national team’s Caribbean Tour in August 2011, when Armando was also the India coach. The deal however was only struck in the winter transfer window. With Beto having left in the summer of 2011, Dempo were coping well until a difficult period in December and Theobald’s signing seemed to revitalise their title challenge. Theobald operated both in midfield and sometimes just behind top goal scorer Ranti Martins and played an important role in Dempo’s record fifth league title triumph. His class and experience gave Dempo the edge over the other title rivals and proved to be possibly the best winter signing in I-League history.
Sunil Chhetri (Joined United Sports Club in February 2011)
If Theobald is the best-ever recruit of the winter transfer window, then Sunil was the most surprising. The current India captain had scored twice in Asian Cup 2011 and was with MLS outfit Kansas City Wizards, but he hardly got to play there and was soon released. Sunil was linked with a move to A-League side Perth Glory as their scouts watched him in the Asian Cup, but that didn’t materialise and eventually United Sports Club (now Prayag United) beat Bhaichung Bhutia’s United Sikkim to secure the star striker’s signature. Sunil wasn’t at his best for United Sports but still managed to score seven goals in as many games before moving to Mohun Bagan for the 2011-12 season.
NP Pradeep (Joined United Kerala in February 2011)
With Mahindra United getting disbanded in 2010 and all national team players away on Asian Cup 2011 preparation, midfielder NP Pradeep was a free agent after the end of the tournament in Qatar. The Nehru Cup 2007 final hero decided to move to his home state Kerala by joining United Kerala, who were struggling to stay in the I-League. Pradeep’s inclusion proved to be the catalyst for United Kerala’s revival in the second half of the season, as they avoided relegation with ease. Pradeep scored some important goals from midfield, including a brilliant strike in the 7-1 hammering of Air India. He also assisted a few and his overall presence ensured the Kerala club a place in the 2011-12 I-League.
Alwyn George (Joined Pailan Arrows in February 2012)
Alwyn George (Pailan Arrows’ No.10)
The Tata Football Academy (TFA) graduate signed for Pailan Arrows in February last year and impressed right from his I-League debut against Dempo. The Arrows lost that game but Alwyn was a standout performer and it was his performances that saw a much improved showing by the AIFF’s developmental side in the closing stages of the season. The boy from Nagpur is now one of the most promising attacking players in the country, having impressed at the U-22 Asian Cup qualifiers last year, and is already on the fringes of the national team.
Edmilson Marques (Joined East Bengal in January 2012)
The Brazilian striker joined the club for his second spell, having almost single-handedly won the club the Federation Cup in 2007 during his first stint. By 2012, Edmilson was mostly playing in the second division or the Calcutta Football League (CFL) but was considered good enough by the Kolkata club to replace Scotsman Alan Gow. Although he fared much better than East Bengal’s 2011 winter recruit Brazilian Leko, possibly one of the worst foreigners ever to play in India, Edmilson couldn’t help the red-and-gold brigade win the I-League. He however did score the only two goals of East Bengal’s disastrous AFC Cup campaign.
