Transfer window closes

Only Chattogram Abahani have kept their foreign collection unchanged from last season among the 13 clubs as the transfer window of Bangladesh Premier League 2020-21 closed on Tuesday. 

 Foreign players quota is reduced from five to four this season. Uzbek defender Ikbol Jon has to make the cut but Ivorian midfielder Charles Didier, Brazilian winger Nixen Guyhlerme, Nigerian forward Chinedu Mathew and Uzbek defender Shukur Ali remained at the club.

 Head coach Maruful Haque has also kept the local recruits almost unchanged except veteran goalkeeper Mazharul Islam Hemel who joined the port city outfits from Mohammedan Sporting Club.

The Brazilian footballers are going to light up the new season as after Bashundhara Kings, Abahani Dhaka also roped in two Brazilian. Striker Francisco Torres joined the club tent as replacement of Sunday Chizoba while midfielder Raphael Augusto is awaiting for arrival. They kept Haitian winger Kervens Belfort from last season. Afghan Defender Masih Saighani rejoined the Sky Blues from Indian Super League (ISL). The local players are unchanged from last season.

 When the other clubs complete transfer formality without much noise, Mohammedan arrived at the BFF House with the players. The club has signed some eight new young players under long-term plan. They kept Malian striker Souleymane Diabate and Japanese midfielder Uryu Nagata from previous season. Burkina Faso defender Mounzir Coulidiati and Nigerian midfielder Mohammed Abiola Nurat are two new signings.

 Former treble winners Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra made complete change in foreign collection but the local recruits remained same. They roped in Kyrgyzstan midfielder Baktyiar Duishobekov who played for Bashundhara Kings last two seasons and Nigerian midfielder Obi Moneke from Mohammedan. Tajik defender Siyovush Asrorov and Brazilian striker Giancarlo Lopez Rodriguez are new recruits.

 Saif Sporting Club signed all new foreign players – Uzbek defender Sirojiuddin Rakhmatullaev, Nigerian midfielder John Okoli, defender Emmanuel Ariwachukwu, forward Kenneth Ngwoke. 

 Japanese midfielder Yusuke Kato rejoined Muktijoddha Sangsad from Jamal as the captain of the struggling club. Akbarali Kholdarov, Christian Bekamenga and Younoussa Camara are new recruits. 

 Arambagh Krira Sangha brought a new group of local recruits while fully changed the foreign group. Ghanaian forward Sadick Adams and midfielder Ibrahim Moro joined the side along with Australian defender Smith Bradte Christian and Nigerian forward Chizoba Christopher. 

 Abahani Limited, Brothers Union, Rahmatganj MFS and Uttar Baridhara have not completed their registration formalities when the report was filed. 

 The new 2020-21 season kicks off on December 22 through the Federation Cup.