Rivka Ramji has signed for Lion City Sailors FC, marking a historic milestone as the first woman footballer from Karnataka to join a foreign club. The young Indian midfielder will represent the Singaporean giants in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26, joining a squad that dominated the preliminary rounds with three consecutive victories. This groundbreaking move represents not only personal achievement for the talented teenager but also a significant step forward for Indian women’s football on the international stage.
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From Karnataka to Singapore: A Historic Journey
The first woman player from Karnataka to sign with a foreign club, Rivka has been the vice captain of the Karnataka Senior Women’s Team for the last three years. She was also part of the Indian U19 team that was jointly crowned champions of the SAFF U19 Championship in February 2024 alongside Bangladesh.
Her professional career saw her plying her trade with Misaka United FC before joining Kemp FC, where her breakthrough moment arrived when she signed for Sethu FC in the Indian Women’s League in the 2023-24 season.
Rivka Ramji’s Career Profile
| Career Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Position | Midfielder |
| Age | 19 years old (teenager) |
| State | Karnataka, India |
| Playing Style | Two-footed, dynamic, creative |
| Previous Clubs | Misaka United FC, Kemp FC, Sethu FC |
| National Team | India U19 (SAFF U19 Champions 2024) |
| State Team Role | Vice Captain (3 years) |
| Awards | KFA Best Midfielder (twice) |
Joining Qiaoling in the middle of the park is Rivka Ramji, a rising talent from India who is known for her two-footedness, dynamism, and creativity in the attacking third. The teenager was part of the India Under-19 team that won the South Asian Football Federation U19 Women’s Championship last February, and featured in the top-tier Indian Women’s League with Sethu FC in the 2024-25 season.
Lion City Sailors FC: Singapore’s Dominant Force
Lion City Sailors defeated every team in the preliminary round to qualify for the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26. They thrashed Jordan’s outfit Etihad before scoring three against Malaysian outfit Kelana United and Kyrgyz side Asiagoal. They have now been drawn in a very tough group alongside the Australian side Melbourne City FC, Vietnamese side Ho Chi Minh City, and the Philippines’ Stallion Laguna.
Lion City Sailors FC Women’s Achievements
| Competition | Achievements |
|---|---|
| Domestic League | 3 consecutive championships, 5 runner-up finishes |
| AFC Women’s Champions League | Qualified for Group Stage 2025-26 |
| Preliminary Round | 3 wins from 3 matches |
| Notable Victories | Jordan (Etihad), Malaysia (Kelana United), Kyrgyzstan (Asiagoal) |
| Group Stage Opponents | Melbourne City FC, Ho Chi Minh City, Stallion Laguna |
Lion City has achieved domestic success in the last few years, winning three championships back-to-back and standing as the runners-up five times. Ramji’s presence is set to bolster the Sailors’ midfield and will also add a young, dynamic energy to the squad. Melbourne City FC is the defending finalist of the AFC Women’s Champions League, making the Sailors’ group stage draw particularly challenging but also offering Rivka an opportunity to test herself against Asia’s elite.
The Road to Professional Football
Rivka Ramji is a young Indian midfielder from Karnataka who has represented the state and India U19 team. She was called up to the senior team but missed out due to injuries. Her recent form with Kemp FC in the Karnataka Women’s League was impressive, and she was scouted by the Lion City Sailors Women’s Team recently. However, frequent injuries reduced her game time in the Indian top flight, making this international opportunity even more significant for her career development.
Her journey through Indian domestic football demonstrates the growing infrastructure for women’s football in the country. Starting with Misaka United FC, she progressed through the ranks before catching attention with Kemp FC in the Karnataka Women’s League. The partnership between Kemp FC and Sethu FC, which included mutual loan agreements, provided Rivka with exposure to diverse competitive environments that prepared her for this international opportunity.
What Rivka Ramji Brings to Lion City Sailors FC
Known for her two-footedness, dynamism, and creativity in the attacking third, Rivka offers Lion City Sailors versatility in midfield that will prove invaluable during their AFC Women’s Champions League campaign. Her technical skills, combined with her ability to operate effectively on both feet, provide tactical flexibility that allows coaches to deploy her in multiple midfield roles depending on match situations.
Her award-winning performances in Karnataka—where she won the KFA Best Midfielder award twice—demonstrate consistent excellence that caught the attention of international scouts. Beyond individual accolades, her role as vice captain of Karnataka’s senior team for three consecutive years showcases leadership qualities and mental maturity that belie her teenage years.
The experience gained competing in the Indian Women’s League, despite injury setbacks, exposed Rivka to professional football’s demands. Now, competing against continental opposition in the AFC Women’s Champions League will accelerate her development exponentially, providing experiences that few Indian players at her age level can access.
The AFC Women’s Champions League Challenge
Lion City Sailors face a daunting group stage challenge in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26. Melbourne City FC, the defending finalists, represent the highest quality opposition, having reached the previous tournament’s championship match. Their Australian pedigree and professional infrastructure make them favorites to top the group, but also provide Rivka with opportunities to measure herself against world-class talent.
Ho Chi Minh City from Vietnam brings Southeast Asian competitiveness and technical quality, while Stallion Laguna from the Philippines rounds out a balanced group where every match will test Lion City’s credentials. For Rivka, these fixtures represent the kind of high-pressure, high-quality football that accelerates player development and provides invaluable experience that can benefit both her club and international career.
The group stage format means every match carries significance, with qualification to the knockout rounds depending on consistent performances across multiple games. Rivka’s ability to contribute creatively in the attacking third while maintaining defensive responsibilities will be crucial to the Sailors’ ambitions of progressing beyond the group stage.
Significance for Indian Women’s Football
Rivka’s signing represents more than individual achievement—it symbolizes growing international recognition of Indian women’s football talent. As Karnataka’s first woman footballer to sign for a foreign club, she blazes a trail that others can follow, demonstrating that pathways exist for talented Indian players to compete at continental and potentially global levels.
The scouting process that led to her signing indicates that international clubs are increasingly monitoring Indian domestic football, searching for talent that can contribute to their squads. This attention benefits the entire ecosystem, as young players across India now have tangible examples of international opportunities available through consistent performances in domestic competitions.
Her journey from state-level football through various Indian clubs to an international contract provides a roadmap for aspiring players. It emphasizes the importance of domestic competitions like the Karnataka Women’s League and Indian Women’s League as development platforms where players can showcase abilities to international scouts.
Lion City Sailors’ Strategic Recruitment
The Sailors’ recruitment strategy demonstrates ambition to compete at the highest Asian levels. Alongside Rivka, they signed Chinese midfielder Zhang Qiaoling and Japanese defender Hikaru Shibusawa, creating an international squad capable of challenging for continental honors. This investment in foreign talent complements their strong domestic core, which has dominated Singaporean women’s football in recent years.
Their performances in the preliminary round—winning all three matches convincingly—provided confidence heading into the group stage. The coaching staff clearly identified midfield creativity and dynamism as areas requiring strengthening, leading them to Rivka. Her profile fits perfectly with their playing philosophy, which emphasizes technical quality, tactical flexibility, and attacking ambition.
The Future Ahead
For Rivka Ramji, the Lion City Sailors FC chapter represents the beginning of what could be an illustrious international career. At just 19 years old, she possesses time on her side to develop further, adapt to professional football’s demands at continental level, and potentially attract interest from even bigger clubs should her performances justify such attention.
The AFC Women’s Champions League platform provides global visibility, with scouts from top leagues worldwide monitoring the tournament for emerging talent. Strong performances could open doors to opportunities in more established women’s football markets, though Rivka’s immediate focus will be establishing herself in Singapore and contributing to the Sailors’ campaign.
A Milestone for Karnataka and India
Rivka Ramji’s signing for Lion City Sailors FC marks a watershed moment for Karnataka and Indian women’s football. As the state’s first woman footballer to join a foreign club, she embodies the progress Indian women’s football has made and the pathways now available for talented players willing to work hard and seize opportunities.
Her journey from Karnataka state football through the Indian Women’s League to the AFC Women’s Champions League demonstrates that dreams of playing international football are achievable for Indian players. The experience she gains competing against Asia’s best will benefit not only her club career but also India’s national teams, where her development at this level could prove invaluable.
For Lion City Sailors FC, they’ve acquired a talented young midfielder whose best years lie ahead. Her two-footedness, creativity, and attacking dynamism provide exactly the qualities they sought to strengthen their midfield for the challenging group stage ahead. Whether Rivka can make an immediate impact or requires time to adapt remains to be seen, but her signing represents a calculated investment in young talent that aligns with the club’s ambitious vision.
The coming months will reveal whether this historic move proves successful for both player and club. One thing is certain: Rivka Ramji has already made history, and Indian women’s football will be watching eagerly as she represents the nation on the AFC Women’s Champions League stage.
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FAQs
Who is Rivka Ramji?
Rivka Ramji is a 19-year-old Indian midfielder from Karnataka who has made history as the first woman footballer from her state to sign for a foreign club. She was vice captain of Karnataka’s senior women’s team for three years and helped India U19 win the SAFF U19 Championship in 2024.
What makes Lion City Sailors FC a good move for Rivka Ramji?
Lion City Sailors FC have won three consecutive domestic championships in Singapore and qualified for the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26 Group Stage. This provides Rivka with the opportunity to compete against Asia’s best clubs including defending finalists Melbourne City FC.
What is Rivka Ramji’s playing style?
Rivka is known for her two-footedness, dynamism, and creativity in the attacking third. She has won the KFA Best Midfielder award twice and combines technical skill with tactical intelligence, making her versatile across multiple midfield positions.
Which clubs has Rivka Ramji played for in India?
Rivka’s professional career included stints with Misaka United FC, Kemp FC in the Karnataka Women’s League, and Sethu FC in the Indian Women’s League during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons before her move to Singapore.
What does this signing mean for Indian women’s football?
This historic signing demonstrates that international pathways exist for talented Indian women footballers and that foreign clubs are increasingly scouting Indian domestic competitions. It provides inspiration for young players across India and validates the development work happening in women’s football.
