Uncertainty looms over Mohun Bagan SG goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh’s future at the club. Dheeraj, who joined the Mariners last season in the final hours of the transfer window on a one-year deal, sees his contract expire at the end of this month. Whether he extends his stay at the club hinges entirely on one factor — guaranteed game time in the upcoming season.
According to sources close to the player, Dheeraj is unhappy with the limited opportunities he has received since his arrival. Despite knowing that Vishal Kaith was the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, Dheeraj hoped to feature regularly in the Durand Cup and few selective ISL matches.
His chances could have materialised if Mohun Bagan had participated in all their AFC Cup fixtures — which might have prompted Kaith to be rested for a few ISL matches. However, those opportunities never came. And Dheeraj had to wait until the final group stage game in the ISL to get his chance, following his lone appearance in the opening match of the Durand Cup.
He did get a few starts in the Super Cup, but whether he remains at the club will depend on the game-time assurances provided by the management ahead of a tightly-packed season featuring ISL, the AFC Cup, the Durand Cup, and the Super Cup.
“When I got the offer from Mohun Bagan, I didn’t think twice,” Dheeraj said on the eve of the Super Cup knockout game against FC Goa in Bhubaneswar. “It was not a good season for me last year. Mohun Bagan is a big club and a great opportunity. I always wanted to be a part of this club — that’s why I signed. But it’s been a difficult season for me. With such limited time on the pitch, it’s hard. For any goalkeeper or player, game time is very important.”
“Of course, it’s difficult to stay motivated. But we have a strong squad, and I need to understand the situation and stay patient. Football is about staying fit, both physically and mentally, and I’ve tried to do that,” he added.
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Now, the question remains: Will the Mohun Bagan management fulfill Dheeraj’s wish for more opportunities? With a demanding schedule that includes AFC matches, ISL, and two domestic tournaments, there could be more chances — but will that be enough to convince him to stay?
At 24, Dheeraj’s situation is understandable. Once regarded as a prodigious talent after starring in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in India, Dheeraj has experienced a roller-coaster journey. After a trial stint in Scotland with Motherwell FC failed to materialise, he joined Kerala Blasters as a first-choice keeper.
However, he lost his spot and moved to the now-defunct ATK, where he spent a season on the bench. Following the merger with Mohun Bagan, he continued to struggle for minutes and subsequently signed for FC Goa in 2021.
That move brought some stability. He played 66 games for the Gaurs — the most in his career so far — and kept 12 clean sheets. His standout performances during Goa’s AFC Champions League campaign, including two clean sheets in five games, even earned him a spot in the team of the week once. But inconsistency led to Arshdeep Singh taking over in goal towards the end of Dheeraj’s stint in Goa.
Joining Mohun Bagan was a bold step, considering Vishal Kaith — a two-time ISL Golden Glove winner — was already established as the No.1. Yet, the pattern has repeated: Dheeraj finds himself on the fringes once more.
Interestingly, his U-17 World Cup teammate and then-backup Prabhsukhan Gill has had a more stable trajectory, securing first-choice status at Kerala Blasters and now at East Bengal.
For Dheeraj, the journey has been one of highs and lows — something that only a few predicted for a player once hailed as the next big thing in Indian goalkeeping. Whether he stays with the Mariners or explores options elsewhere — like Hyderabad FC or Kerala Blasters, both in search of a first-choice goalkeeper — remains to be seen.
The upcoming transfer window will be a decisive chapter in the career of the 24-year-old Manipuri shot-stopper.
Also Read: AIFF to Reshuffles Domestic Calendar: Super Cup to Kick-Off Season, Durand Cup Moved to Year End