ISL: Jeje Lalpekhlua departs Chennaiyin FC, set for East Bengal move?

Star Indian forward Jeje Lalpekhlua, on Tuesday, announced that he was ending his six-year association with two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions Chennaiyin FC.

Jeje took to Instagram and Twitter to announce his departure officially. In an emotional post, he wrote:

“I would firstly like to thank each and every one of you for the outstanding support you give us all at Chennaiyin FC. This is the club that gave me my first steps into the Indian Super League and it is because of this club that I am who I am today.

I will never forget the support Vita Dani and Abhishek Bachchan have given us through all the ups and downs during our 6 seasons. It was a great feeling to win the trophy twice with the team. A big thank you to every manager I played under and each and every player I played alongside.

I did wish I could play another match for Chennaiyin FC as I missed the last season but it is not to be. The Supermachans and B-Stand Blues are the lifeblood of this team and I hope we can meet once again. Thank you all it was an honour! See you soon!”

https://twitter.com/jejefanai/status/1303213556360384512

Jeje had been an integral part of Chennaiyin, scoring 23 goals over five seasons. But the 29-year-old was forced to miss the entirety of the 2019-20 season after undergoing a knee surgery. He last played a competitive game more than a year ago when he featured in a 1-0 win over Abahani Dhaka in the AFC Cup.

Nevertheless, after a lengthy period of rehabilitation, the Mizo Sniper is raring to go again. Sources suggest that East Bengal, the newest entrants in the ISL, are interested in signing Jeje for the new season. It is understood that the Red and Golds had begun talks with the striker back in April itself but the whole investor-ISL drama ensued.

Having secured Shree Cement Ltd. as their investors, the Kolkata giants have now shifted their focus on identifying new signings. Sources claim that the club will resume talks with Jeje soon.