East Bengal have confirmed their first signing of the new season, with Ivan Gonzalez joining the club on a two-year deal. The defender previously featured for FC Goa in the ISL, and his contract with the club ran out at the end of May.
As a result, he has agreed a free transfer to the Red and Gold club and will be playing for them in the upcoming season. After putting in consistent performances over the last few seasons, he became a top priority for the scouts of the club.
Ivan Gonzalez joins East Bengal until 2024
A new era is set to begin for the club starting from this season, with Shree Cement moving out of the equation. The club is getting new sponsors, which could be Bashundhara Group, which also supports Bangladeshi champions Bashundhara Kings.
With the signing of Ivan Gonzalez, East Bengal have started to rebuild their team to achieve better results next season. Their most recent campaign was a disaster, as they finished at the bottom of the table with only one win from 20 games.
Gonzalez was a key part of Juan Ferrando’s semi-final run in 2020/21, making 19 appearances throughout the season. He also played a big part in their third placed finish in the AFC Champions League the following season. The arrival of an established player of the Spaniard’s status will help East Bengal become more stable defensively starting this season.