East Bengal rope in former Hyderabad FC midfielder Borja Herrera

Indian Super League outfit East Bengal FC are taking giant strides in the transfer market. The Red and Gold have now officially confirmed the signing of Spanish midfielder Borja Herrera on a one-year deal.

Known for his calm and composed presence in the heart of the midfield, Borja is someone who will bring stability to the team, which they lacked in the last couple of years. The Spaniard was a vital part of Manolo Marquez’s Hyderabad FC.

Apart from controlling possession and providing stability in the midfield, he also netted four goals and provided five assists last season. Borja also created 32 chances and guided the Nizams to their second consecutive ISL semifinals.

He also featured in the Durand Cup and overall finished with a tally of five goals and nine assists last season across all competitions. He is someone who has that creativity in the midfield but it needed he can be combative as well and provide defensive stability in the middle.

Right after the official announcement, Mr. Debabrata Mukherjee of Emami Group said, “Borja is one of the most complete midfielders in the Hero ISL. His depth of experience and leadership qualities will provide plenty of strength to our team both on and off the ground.”

The experienced Spaniard shared how he was very fortunate to get an offer from East Bengal, a club so rich in legacy and heritage. He shared that he did not give a second thought about joining the Kolkata-outfit when he got the offer. “I am excited to continue my footballing journey in India. After a great season with Hyderabad FC, I now want to travel to Kolkata and be a Red & Gold. We are all aware of East Bengal FC’s rich legacy, so when I got the offer to be a part of this great club, I didn’t have to think twice,” Borja stated after putting pen to paper.

The 30-year-old midfielder also expressed his gratitude towards head coach Carles Cuadrat. He also revealed his desire to play the all-important Kolkata Derby. “I am also looking forward to playing in the Kolkata Derby, which, I’ve heard, is one of the biggest derbies in Asia. I would like to thank coach Carles (Cuadrat), Emami Group and the club for valuing my experience and showing faith in me,” he added.

Coming to Cuadrat, the Spnaish tactician is very happy with Borja’s arrival and feels that the left side of the field is secured with him. He also stated his technical prowess as a midfielder. Lastly Cuadrat highlights how Borja has already played in India and knows the environment, so the initial acclimatisation won’t be required, which will helpt the Red and Golds majorly.

“Borja is a fantastic addition to the squad. He is technically very sound and his versatility on the left side will help both our offence and defence. Having already played a season in India, he has become accustomed to the level of competition in the Hero ISL. He was a vital member of the Hyderabad FC squad last season, and I am sure that his impressive work rate will benefit us immensely,” Cuadrat opined.

The 30-year-old midfielder learned his trade at Las Palmas and Huracan. Later, he played for many Spanish clubs including CD Tudelano, Las Palmas B, Las Palmas’ first team, Real Valladolid, Reus, Albacete, FC Andorra, Unionistas de Salamanca CF and UD Tamaraceite. However, his professional debut happened in the 2012-13 season at FC Union Viera in the Tercera Division.

Borja joined Hyderabad FC in 2022 from Spanish Segunda outfit UD Tamaraceite.