Former India U-17 and Mohun Bagan SG goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh, who trialed with Scottish club Motherwell FC, has once again received offers from clubs outside India. After stealing the limelight during the FIFA U-17 World Cup — a landmark tournament for host nation India — Dheeraj’s career didn’t follow a smooth trajectory.
He has donned the jerseys of several clubs, starting from the now-defunct Atlético de Kolkata to FC Goa, and then returning to Kolkata to play for Mohun Bagan. But at none of these clubs did he enjoy a lengthy period of time as the consistent first-choice goalkeeper — except perhaps at Goa. Even there, injuries and a few erratic outings saw Dheeraj fall out of favour at times.
Dheeraj’s contract with Mohun Bagan ends this month, and the shot-stopper is highly unlikely to renew his deal with the green and maroon brigade. As per sources, Dheeraj is currently exploring options to move to a club where he can establish himself as the first-choice goalkeeper. At 24 — a crucial stage in any footballer’s career — Dheeraj is being more cautious about his career graph and is focused on becoming a regular starter between the posts for whichever team he represents.
RevSportz has learnt from close sources that the goalkeeper has received a few offers from Indian Super League clubs, but in addition, there are also offers from a few clubs outside India. Many overseas clubs regularly scout emerging talent, and a few of them have shortlisted Dheeraj’s name as a potential signing. However, it is understood that these foreign clubs may not consider Dheeraj as their immediate first-choice goalkeeper, and he would need to fight for his spot. Still, such a move would be a valuable learning curve, and spending at least a year or two in a competitive foreign setup could significantly enrich his experience and profile.
Earlier, young goalkeeper Som Kumar, who had played in the Slovenian youth league for NK Olimpija Ljubljana, before joining Kerala Blasters last season, again made a move back to Slovenia — this time to play for first division side NK Radomlje.
Now the ball is in Dheeraj’s court — whether he chooses to go abroad or settle for another stint in India, remains to be seen. For now, Dheeraj is yet to make a final decision about his future as he is currently spending quality time with his family back home.
Mohun Bagan was always a dream club for Dheeraj, and his own words reflect the emotional significance of signing for the Mariners.
“When I got the offer from Mohun Bagan, I didn’t think twice,” Dheeraj had 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.”
However, the lack of game time may compel him to explore a new challenge in the upcoming season.
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