ISL: ATK Mohun Bagan sign Bradden Inman from Brisbane Roar for an undisclosed fee

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit ATK Mohun Bagan FC have managed a major coup with the signing of Australian midfielder Bradden Inman from A-League outfit Brisbane Roar FC for an undisclosed fee. The 28-year-old versatile midfielder, who can play in central midfield as well as down the flanks, signed a one-year deal with the Kolkata-based club, The Bridge can confirm.

ATK Mohun Bagan had their eyes on Inman for quite a long time and had begun talks back in June, a verbal agreement had been reached between the ISL club and the player by July. However, the A-League season, after being pushed back due to the Covid-19 pandemic, concluded only recently. All formalities were completed in the last couple of weeks, just in time for the seventh season of the ISL.

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The departure of Inman was confirmed by the Australian club on their official website after an impactful season where he made 25 appearances and scored 4 goals and 5 assists on the way to Brisbane’s playoff quarter-final finish.

"I would like to say thank you to all the players and staff. It was a unique season – there were plenty of great moments as well as some tough ones, but we helped each other through it all and really enjoyed pulling on the orange kit every week,” Inman said in a press release. “To the fans – you were right behind us every week, even when you couldn’t be in the stadiums to cheer us on," he added in his farewell note.

A Newcastle United academy graduate, the highly rated Inman is an experienced campaigner at the top level having featured for clubs like Crewe Alexandra, Peterborough and Rochdale in the lower echelons of the English game. He moved back to his native country in 2019 with the opportunity of working with Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler too good a proposition to turn down.

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Inman, who has also represented Scotland at the youth levels, is ATK Mohun Bagan’s 7th foreign recruit and if needed, can fill in as the back-up for David Williams as a player from an AFC affiliated nation.

This might be especially important since the club are set to compete in the AFC Cup later this season. With only four foreigners being allowed to be registered, one of whom has to fulfil the Asian quota, it will be interesting to see who makes the cut, Inman or Williams.

The midfielder’s pace and trickery could be a valuable asset for the team to break down opponents in the ISL as well in what promises to be a hugely competitive season. With a set team and exceptional finishers like Roy Krishna and David Williams around him, this could well turn out to be one of the signings of the season and should give the Green and Maroon fans plenty to look forward to.