ISL 2022-23: Sandesh Jhingan rejoins Bengaluru FC on permanent deal after five years

Star defender Sandesh Jhinghan has rejoined Bengaluru FC on a permanent deal after five years ahead of the ninth season of the Hero Indian Super League, the club announced on their social media handles on Sunday. Jhinghan has had a glorious career so far in the Hero ISL after plying his trade for clubs like Kerala Blasters FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, and Bengaluru FC.

Jhinghan made his Hero ISL debut for Kerala Blasters in 2014 and he was able to impress one and all with his defensive skills. Thus, the lanky player from Chandigarh was awarded the Emerging Player of the Season in the tournament’s maiden edition.

Meanwhile, the defender had left for Croatian top-tier club HNK Sibenik after the end of the ISL 2020-21 season but his campaign was ended due to injury and thus he rejoined ATK Mohun Bagan.

Jhinga is regarded as one of the best Indian defenders and makes great use of his height to take advantage against the opposition’s strikers. He was also named as AIFF Player of the Year for the 2020-21 campaign and was bestowed with Arjuna Award in 2020.

Jhingan made 30 clearances, 25 tackles, 14 interceptions, and 13 blocks along with a passing accuracy of 86% in nine matches he played in the previous season for ATK Mohun.

Jhinghan has all the experience under his belt and he will be determined to give his best for the Blues by making the most of it. The 29-year-old will look to bring his best to the pitch for Bengaluru FC and deliver the goods for Simon Grayson, who is the team’s new head coach.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC have added Javi Hernandez, Roy Krishna, Prabir Das, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Faisal Ali, Hira Mondal, Felixson Conny Fernandes, Amrit Gope, and Clarence Fernandes to their squad this season.