ISL 2022-23: NorthEast United signs former Gokulam Kerala youngster Emil Benny

Indian Super League outfit NorthEast United have finally started making moves in the transfer market and they have signed former Gokulam Kerala midfielder Emil Benny. The youngster from Kerala was adjudged the I-League Emerging Player for the 2020-21 season as he showcased some outrageous skills for the Malabarians.

Benny was crucial for Gokulam Kerala in both their I-League triumphs and was a very important player in midfield. He also played on the flanks due to his great acceleration and ability to cut in with precision. So he will be one player on whom there will be a lot of eyeballs from various parts of India and especially by the Highlanders ahead of the new season.

The young midfielder is the second player to join Northeast United from Gokulam Kerala in this transfer window. The Highlanders have already signed Kerala forward Jithin MS after his stellar performances for the Malabarians and will be looking to help Northeast United get ahead in the Indian Super League pecking order especially since the departure of VP Suhair who has joined East Bengal.

Both Emil Benny and Jithin have won the I-League titles two time in consecutive years under the able leadership of head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese. COming back to Benny, the midfielder made 32 appearances for Gokulam and scored four times and has already featured in the AFC Cup during the famous stint that made him famous in the Indian circuit.

“We have been keeping an eye on Emil for last two seasons in the I-League, where he was one of the emerging players of the league.He is a phenomenal talent with the potential to become a member of the national squad in the upcoming seasons. We have high hopes on him,” NorthEast United Ohad Efrat said after securing the signing of the young Indian midfielder as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Emil Benny joins a group at NorthEast United which includes goalkeeper Mirshad Michu, Mashor Shareef, midfielder Pragyan Medhi, Pragyan Gogoi and defenders Gurjinder Singh and Provat Lakra. The Highlanders have started training and have sent their youth team for the Durand Cup and the performance has not been even close to satisfactory as they have lost both matches against Odisha FC and Army Green. The young Highlanders have conceded nine goals in two matches scoring only one and by the looks the last match will also end in humiliation for them.
However the senior team is training separately for the upcoming ISL under the stewardship of new head coach Marco Balbul. They are yet to tie down on their foreigners for the upcoming season as the fans grow eager with every passing day.