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Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Indian football team goalkeeper, signs for Bengaluru FC
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, first Indian footballer to play at the UEFA Europa League, has signed for Indian Super League (ISL) club Bengaluru FC from Norwegian side Stabaek FC
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Indian football team goalkeeper, has signed for Indian Super League (ISL) club Bengaluru FC. He is coming from top flight Norwegian side Stabaek FC.
Bengaluru FC have also completed the official paperwork in time for him to be part of the 2017 AFC Cup campaign. The Chandigarh lad will be available for selection for the home leg of the crucial Inter-Zonal semifinal against North Korean side April 25 SC on August 23.
Lack of game time in Europe
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who arrived in Bengaluru on Thursday, was ecstatic ahead of the new chapter in his career. “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.”
READ | Gurpreet Singh Sandhu hails overseas scouting programme for U-17 World Cup
“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 will provide the perfect platform for me,” he added.
Turning pro in 2010 where he had a brief loan spell with AIFF’s developmental side Pailan Arrows (2010-11), Gurpreet returned to East Bengal, going on to become the first-choice custodian in the latter part of his three-year spell. At East Bengal, Gurpreet won the 2012 Federation Cup apart from topping the Calcutta Football League on numerous occasions.
READ | Keeper Gurpreet Sandhu expects great things from India’s Under-17 squad
Standing tall at 6’ 4”, Gurpreet moved to Europe as a 22-year-old, signing for Norwegian club Stabaek in August 2014 where he featured in a number of cup games, including the entire 2016 Cup run. He eventually made his League debut in May 2016 in an away match against IK Start, and in the process, became the first Indian footballer to play in a European top division league. In June 2016, the Punjabi lad put another feather in his cap, becoming the first Indian footballer to feature in a UEFA Europa League match by playing against Welsh side Connah’s Quay Nomads FC in the competition’s qualifiers.
READ | His passion for football has taken him to such heights, says Gurpreet’s father
Having represented India (U19 & U22) numerous times at the youth level, Gurpreet was called up to the senior national team for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, and made his debut couple months later in the AFC Challenge Cup. 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 Qualifiers while even skippering the side on a few occasions.
