Gurpreet Singh Sandhu signs for Bengaluru FC

by Chittu Shetty August 17, 2017

India International goalkeeper Sandhu returns from Norwegian side Stabaek FC to join Indian Super League side Bengaluru FC for a undisclosed transfer amount

Indian Goalkeeper: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu 2 days before INDvPUR

After Bengaluru FC CEO Parth Jindal teased fans with hints of big signing, Blues faithful have been ever since trying to decode the player. Reports from Stabaek of releasing Sandhu yesterday had raised enough hints that BFC have signed him.

Bengaluru FC finally confirmed this on twitter with a Short video introduction, where they revealed their 6 ft. 4 in big footed Goalkeeper. Gurpreet was the first ever Indian to play a competitive match for the first team of a top-division European club when he joined Norwegian club Staebek, in the process becoming the fifth Indian to play professionally in Europe after Mohammed Salim, Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri and Subrata Pal. He is also the first Indian to play in the UEFA Europa League.

Bengaluru FC secures the services of India’s No.1 goalkeeper, completing the official paperwork just in time so that he can be part of the 2017 AFC Cup campaign, which means that the Chandigarh born lad will be available for selection for the home leg of the crucial Inter-Zonal Semi final against North Korean side April 25 SC next week. Bengaluru FC now has 4 keepers in the squad, with L Mawai and Abhra Mondal and Calvin Abhishek already in the team.

Also Read: Stephan Constantine’s exclusive conversation with AIFF

Sandhu on joining BFC said, “I’m extremely delighted to have signed for Bengaluru FC. While the experience of playing in Europe was fantastic, lack of game time was an important factor in making the decision of moving back to India. I had an offer from another top-flight club in Europe, but the need to play regularly ahead of the AFC Asian Cup in 2019 was something that was on my mind.”

“The fact that Bengaluru FC was interested in me was encouraging considering what they have achieved over the last few years. With BFC playing on the continental level this season as well as the next one, it will provide the perfect platform for me,” he added.

Rising from the ranks of East Bengal FC, Gurpreet was a regular in age group teams for India U-19 & U-23, when Subrata Pal was at his best in the National team. After playing second fiddle to Subrata Paul, Gurpreet finally cemented his position as India’s number one during the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier.