The Indian top division is guaranteed at least one more year of free-scoring Nigerian striker Bartholomew Ogbeche
Indian club Mumbai City FC has completed the signing of former Super Eagles forward Bartholomew Ogbeche on a free transfer.
Ogbeche reportedly put pen to paper on a one-year deal with the Indian Super League side with an option to extend, after a breakthrough in a long-drawn negotiations saga.
The 36-year-old became a free agent at the end of August, after leaving Kerala Blasters, where he was the club's skipper and top scorer.
After a nomadic career featuring for clubs in Nigeria, France, England, Holland, Spain, Greece, and the UAE, Ogbeche moved to India to join NorthEast United FC ahead of the 2018-19 season. He was made the team's captain straight away on arrival.
Twelve goals and two assists in 19 games for NorthEast United helped him secure a move to another Indian side Kerala Blasters the following year.
An incredible 15 goals in 16 matches – finished the campaign as the joint top goal-scorer in the division – for his new side turned the former PSG star into one of the biggest names in Indian football.
Revealing the reason behind joining his third Indian club in just two years in quotes carried by the Sportstar, Ogbeche said:
“Besides the brilliant mix of youth and experience in our team, the apparent quality and level of the squad speak volumes about the ambitions we have here at the club.
“In my two years in the ISL, I’ve come up a fair few times against Sergio Lobera’s team, and our coach’s positive and free-flowing brand of football perfectly fits my style and idea of the game as well.”
Mumbai City head coach Sergio Lobera also has words of praise for a striker he holds in high regard.
“He is not only a terrific goal-scorer but also a leader in the true sense,” Lobera said.
“Bart (Ogbeche) can be a role-model to plenty of the young boys in our squad and not to mention, be a winner for us on the pitch with his attacking talents.”
Mumbai City FC ended last season in fifth place on the league table, just outside of the Championship playoff semi-final spots. Ogbeche will look to power the club to that level this term with his goals.
