ISL 2020-21: ATK FC star signs two-year contract extension

As reigning Indian Super League (ISL) champions ATK FC merge with I-League champions-elect Mohun Bagan to play as a single entity next season, RPSG group, who will own 80% majority, are keen on retaining the core group of foreigners who won them the trophy.

Having already secured star forward duo Roy Krishna and David Williams, the Kolkata franchise has tied down Spanish attacker Edu Garcia with a new two-year deal, The Bridge can confirm, and more retentions/contract extensions will follow.

According to sources close to the development, Edu was quite in demand among the ISL clubs. He was a crucial cog in Antonio Lopes Habas’ set up this season and even though he did not start every match, the 29-year-old impressed with his eye-catching performances. In 16 appearances, he found the back of the net six times and assisted thrice.

Also read: ISL 2019-20: Just how good were ATK this season?

Edu arrived in India back in 2017 when he joined Bengaluru FC. But he soon left for Chinese second-tier outfit Zhejiang Greentown for a then-record transfer fee. He would return for a second stint in the ISL, this time in ATK colours, in 2019.

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However, after a disappointing season when the entire team faltered, his future with the club was uncertain at one point. But he managed to impress Habas in training and then, slotted in as the perfect replacement for Williams, when the latter was sidelined with an injury. When Williams returned, Edu formed a deadly trio alongside the Australian forward and Krishna.

In Krishna, Williams and Edu, Habas’ team has quite a potent attack for the coming season and as reported earlier, they have added new blood in Manvir Singh, Fran Gonzalez and Subhasish Bose.It remains to be seen, how they move in the remainder of the transfer window.