Top 11 Indian and Indian-origin youth footballers playing abroad

Yan Dhanda signed a professional contract with Liverpool on ThursdayWith 16-year-old Birmingham-born youngster, Yan Dhanda becoming the first Indian-origin player to sign a professional contract with Liverpool and Bengaluru boy Ishan Pandita on the verge of signing a contract with Spanish club UD Almeria, we take a look at the Indian-born players and the Indian-origin players who are playing or have played previously in leagues outside India.With Stephen Constantine making a push for Indian origin players to be eligible to play for the Indian National Team, perhaps these youngsters may take the pitch for the Blue Tigers in the years to come.

#1 Yan Dhanda (Liverpool)

The 16-year-old Birmingham-born youngster, who will turn 17 this week was first spotted at Chelsea’s ‘Search for an Asian Star’ in 2010 and was with the West Brom academy since the age of nine after spending time at Walsall, Aston Villa and Birmingham City previously.

After being chased by Arsenal & Liverpool, Dhanda joined the Merseysider’s academy set up from West Bromwich Albion for a fee of 200,000 pounds. Dhanda became the first player of Indian descent to sign a professional contract with Premier League powerhouse Liverpool on Thursday.

He featured heavily for Liverpool’s U-18 side this season and played a couple of matches for the U-21 side as well. The midfielder also got the chance to train with the Liverpool first team at Melwood on several occasions, with hopes high that he can make it to the first team.

#2 Malvind Benning (Mansfield Town)

Malvind Benning was born in Sandwell, situated in the West Midlands of England. The 22-year-old left back started his youth career at League One outfit Walsall FC and progressed through their youth system before earning his first professional contract in 2012. He also had a loan spell at Southern Football League side Evesham United and was rewarded by Walsall with a new two-and-a-half year deal. He was later sent on loan to League two side York City FC. After being released by Walsall in May 2015, Benning joined League two side Mansfield Town and is currently playing for them.

#3 Pratik Shinde (Houston Hurricanes)

Pratik Shinde was born in Chembur, Mumbai where he started playing football as a 7 year old. He received training at the Andheri Football Academy and was drafted into the U-14 Indian team for the world-renowned Gothia Cup in Sweden.

He landed a contract with Texas-based Galveston Pirates, a semi-professional team in USA’s fourth-tier National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) at the age of 15 after his eye-catching performances in the Gothia Cup. Galveston Pirates were re-branded as Houston Hurricanes FC and Shinde moved with the team there. The 20-year-old forward then returned to India in 2014 to play for FC Pune City in the Indian Super League.

#4 Brandon Fernandes (ASD Cape Town)

Brandon Fernandes is a product of the Salgaocar youth system, and caught everyone's attention in the Manchester United Premier Cup and was offered a scholarship by South Africa’s ASD Cape Town in 2011. Fernandes plays as a midfielder and his playing style was compared to that of Xavi Hernandez by his former Salgaocar youth coach.

He was offered a trial by then English Premier League outfit Reading and also at current Premier League leaders Leicester City. His success at ASD has also seen three more Salgaocar youth players join the South African club’s academy. The 21-year-old signed for Sporting Club de Goa back in February and also plays for Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League.

#5 Dylan Lall (Brighton & Hove Albion/Montreal Impact)

Born in Croydon, South London, 19-year-old Dylan started his career at Brighton & Hove Albion, signing a professional contract in 2013. Lall, who can operate both as a left back and centre back, has represented the South of England at U-16 level. The defender spent more than six years with the Seagulls, starting from 2008.

Dylan has since made the move to MLS side Montreal Impact in Canada, where he is on the roster for the Impact's Academy.

#6 Jhai Singh Dhillon (Stevenage FC)

Jhai Dhillon is another British Indian defender who earned a one-year professional contract with League One side Stevenage FC back in June. The 18-year-old joined Stevenage back in 2009 after being one of the winners of Chelsea’s ‘Search for an Asian Star’. He has also had a loan spell at Evostik Southern Premier Division side Hitchin Town and also at Royston Town afterwards.

At the end of the 2013/14 season, the defender was released from Stevenage after the club got relegated to League 2 along with 15 other professional players. Dhillon signed for Barton for the 2014/2015 season and then signed for Conference South League side Hayes & Yeading United FC.

#7 Myron Mendes (ASD Cape Town)

Myron Mendes (Picture courtesy: ASD Cape Town)

Myron is another Goan-born ASD Cape Town scholar who has represented India at u-13, u-14, u-15 and u-16 levels. The 19-year-old is a very versatile player and is comfortable with both feet. Thus, he can operate on both flanks either as a defender or midfielder.

He was spotted by ASD during his days in the Salgaocar youth team and has been described by the South African club’s technical staff as a ‘modern day attacking full-back’.

#8 Aldrich Coelho (ASD Cape Town)

18-year-old Aldrich is the youngest of the Salgaocar trio that joined ASD Cape Town on a scholarship in 2013. The versatile attacker represented Salgaocar in the 2010 Manchester United Premier Cup and helped them win the Indian leg. The Margao-born lad was also selected in the India under-15 team for a tour of Spain but eventually couldn’t go due to visa issues.

#9 Amarjit Singh (ASD Cape Town)

Amarjit was born in Sarhalakhurd, Punjab but joined Salgaocar’s youth team after spells at Mahilpur and Paldi academies. The talented midfielder is 20 years old and missed out on a call-up to the India junior team earlier in 2013 due to the scholarship at ASD Cape Town. According to the ASD technical staff, Amarjit has the ‘physical presence and technical quality’ to succeed.

#10 Joshua Pynadath (Real Madrid)

Real Madrid beat off competition from arch-rivals Barcelona to sign this 13-year-old Indian American back in August 2013. Pynadath is a talented attacker and his favourite player is current Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Joshua has spent the past eleven and a half years training at Real Madrid’s youth soccer academy known as "La Fabrica".

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane being part of Madrid’s set up, it’s an ideal environment for Joshua to learn from the best.

#11 Ishan Pandita (UD Almeria)

Bengaluru boy Ishan Pandita is set to become the first Indian footballer to play for Spanish club UD Almeria. Pandita started playing football at the age of six and moved to Bengaluru, Karnataka from the Philippines in 2009.

Pandita is now part of the U-18 side of Almeria, who were relegated to the second division of Spanish football last year. Ishan will be able to sign an official contract with Almeria only in May 2016, as player registration rules prevent him from signing while too young.