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The fourth edition of the Indian Super League is all set to kick-start on November 17 and all the competing teams have their respective squads set for the battle for the crown that starts exactly two months today.
The prolonged, five-month duration of the upcoming season has, in a way, forced teams to bring in a mix of experienced and young players, unlike the previous seasons. ISL teams, this summer, have prioritised recruiting more young talents as a necessity instead of an afterthought.
All teams have already roped in the best foreign youngsters available and affordable to them. These youngsters with very high ceilings and potential will be the ones to watch in what will be the grandest ISL ever.
So, without further wait, let's take the five youngest foreign signings who will be in action in the 2017-18 ISL.
Courage Pekuson - Kerala Blasters - 22 years old
The 22-year-old Ghana U-23 International will ply his trade for the Kochi-based ISL outfit. Pekuson started his senior career with FC Koper of Slovenian top tier. He made 23 appearances for the team and scored four goals.
Kerala Blasters will rely on the potential of Pekuson in midfield, as they completed their squad with him as the only foreign midfielder. While the Ghanaian is an unknown quantity at large, he could be one of the signings of the season.
#4 Thiago Santos - Mumbai City FC - 22 years old
Thiago Santos started his professional career with Brazilian top tier team, Flamengo. He made seven appearances for the team.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is among the youngest foreign recruits in the ISL this summer. Groomed at Flamengo's Academy that has produced players like Renato Augusto and Vinicius Jr, Santos' experience of having played alongside some of the finest talents in Brazil which will make him a player to watch in ISL-4.
Whether or not he is starting material remains to be seen, but Mumbai City head coach Alexandre Guimaraes would look to use Santos' services to improve his team's attack.
#3 Jeroen Lumu - Delhi Dynamos - 22 years old
One of the best young foreign recruits of the 2017-18 Indian Super League, Lumu has featured for the Netherlands U-21 team.
The Dutchman has made over 70 appearances, a majority of which has come in the top tiers of the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Austria.
This versatile player can be utilized either in the flanks or can be played as a forward. Lumu's reputation as one of the best young Dutch talents and his previous links to big clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United definitely make him one to watch in the ISL next season.
#2 Trindade Goncalves - Jamshedpur FC - 21 years old
The 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder has made his return to the Indian Super League. A Flamengo academy graduate, Trindade kick-started his senior career with the Rubro Negro but failed to make a single senior competitive appearance.
Goncalves was signed by the FC Goa in the third edition of Indian Super League. However, he managed only one appearance due to an injury. But that was enough to attract the eyeballs of Jamshedpur FC head coach Steve Coppell.
#1 Mark Sifneos - Kerala Blasters -18 years old
The Dutch footballer with Greek roots the youngest player of this grandest, revived edition of Indian Super League.
The 20-year-old player had his youth career at Brabant United, WV-HEDW, S.V RAP, RKSV RODA '23, and SV Argon. Sifneos made his professional debut in the Eerste Devise for RKC Waalwijk in February 2016 in a game against Jong PSV, PSV Eindhoven's youth side.
Rene Muelensteen's Dutch relations have helped Kerala Blasters sign this developing talent. Sifneos, who made his senior debut in the second tier of Europe, could obviously become the next star of the Indian Super League if he can manage to score goals ahead of the likes of Iain Hume and Dimitar Berbatov.
