For the next two seasons, Javi Hernandez will play for Bengaluru FC. With Odisha FC in the Indian Super League (ISL), the Spanish midfielder had a strong season, scoring six goals and assisting five times.
He was a key part of the team’s playoff campaign, although they only finished seventh, 11 points behind the fourth-placed Kerala Blasters.
Javi Switching to Bengaluru FC
Odisha will now be without the attacking midfielder, who has transferred to Bengaluru. Hernandez has signed a two-year contract with the club, which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2024, according to reports.
Bengaluru needed alternatives after failing to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season, and they are thrilled with their first new international signing for next season.
Someone who has tracked his development, told: “Javi is someone who can help Bengaluru a lot. He has experience playing in India and has been consistent all through his stint here. He is the kind of player that Bengaluru has missed for the last two seasons.” Javi shot 49 times in 19 of Odisha’s 20 league games last season.
About the Midfielder
The midfielder rose through the levels of UD Salamanca’s youth program before joining Real Madrid’s reserves. The offensive midfielder moved abroad to play for Romanian, Polish, and Azerbaijani clubs after stints with many other Spanish clubs.
Former champions ATK then paid a transfer fee to Cracovia Krakow in Poland to release him from his contract. Javi repaid his team by scoring twice in 2019-20 final, which they won 3-1 at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, against Chennaiyin FC.
Javi made 17 appearances for ATK Mohun Bagan in 2020-21 before joining Odisha on a free transfer and was the club’s second-highest goalscorer behind Brazilian striker Jonathas de Jesus.
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