Pune: Indian Super League (ISL) franchise FC Pune City Thursday signed Alwyn George and Nikhil Poojari, bolstering their squad for the 2018-19 season.
Alwyn plied his trade for Bengaluru FC in the last season and will now don the orange colors of Pune, a club from his home state of Maharashtra. For Nikhil too, it will be a homecoming of sorts, as the Mumbai boy will return to Maharashtra, after spending two seasons in Kolkata playing for East Bengal.
Alwyn started his career with the Tata Football Academy in 2008 and signed his first professional contract with Pailan Arrows four years later.
It was during the midfielder’s stint at Dempo that he caught the eyes of everyone. He was named best young Indian player of the season for two years in a row. After that, Alwyn played in ISL with FC Goa, Delhi Dynamos FC and later Bengaluru FC.
Excited to join the Stallions, George said, “It’s a great opportunity for me to play for a team which is ambitious and professionally managed at the same time. Also it is an added advantage for me since I will play for a team from my home state.”
On the other hand, Nikhil started his professional career with the youth team of Mumbai FC before being signed by East Bengal in 2015. His pace and fitness levels with East Bengal impressed national scouts that rightly got him national call for U23 and later senior side too.
Coming back to his home state, Poojari said, “I’m excited to join FC Pune City and play in the Indian Super League. It was a no-brainer for me to sign with them at the first chance I got. I am looking forward to make the most of the opportunities I get here at the club.”