East Bengal in ISL 2026-27: How is the Red and Gold Brigade shaping up? Full squad; Strongest lineup

Edmund Lalrindika will be expected to become East Bengal’s chief source of goals this season. | Photo Credit: AIFF MEDIA

East Bengal will walk into the new Indian Super League (ISL) season with a feeling that it has not felt in 22 years: as champions of the country’s top flight.

The Antonio Habas-led outfit lost just once during the curtailed season earlier this year, lifting the ISL trophy for the first time, edging city rival Mohun Bagan Super Giant on goal difference.

And with a title to defend, East Bengal has been busy in pre-season, both on and off the pitch.

Since its last game of the previous campaign against Inter Kashi, East Bengal has gone onto the field in the Durand Cup, the Calcutta Football League (CFL), the IFA Shield and a couple of games on the continental stage as well.

While a younger crop of players featured in the CFL, a majority of the senior players have gotten significant minutes. The club has been busy in the transfer window too. Key parts of last season’s league-winning side, like Miguel Figueira (midfielder), Kevin Sibille (centre-back), and Youssef Ezzejjari (forward), moved away. Still, reinforcements have been brought in with urgency, and the club also possesses a good bunch of homegrown players.

For starters, Sibille’s spot looks likely to go to Croatian defender Diego Zivulic, who will be looking to form a partnership at the heart of defence with Anwar Ali, who is arguably one of the finest players in the league.

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Set up as a counterattacking team, Habas expects his wider players (fullbacks and wingers) to do a lot of running, and strengthening was done in those areas as well.

Sandip Mandi and Hardik Bhatt were roped in from Inter Kashi and Sreenidi Deccan, respectively, while Habas already has the services of Jay Gupta. All three are not only capable of holding their ground while defending, but also are nimble enough to get forward from time to time.

Losing last season’s best player, Ferreira, and top-scorer Ezzejjari in the same window certainly must have been a tough pill to swallow for the East Bengal. But the team has made it clear that there is no time to look back by recruiting the next best players in the league.

Antonio Habas, left, has plenty of experience in Indian football and will be in charge of his fifth club in the ISL. | Photo Credit: AIFF MEDIA

Attacking midfielder Dani Ramirez, who recorded five goals and three assists in 17 appearances (all competitions) for Punjab FC last season, seems like a suitable alternative, having already scored twice and set up three more in eight games in Red and Gold.

He will be expected to be the creative output, while Mohammed Rashid, Jeakson Singh and new signing Rohit Kumar provide the defensive cover in the middle of the pitch.

In the forward line, four foreign signings have been made to make up for Ezzejjari’s departure. One of them, Effiong Nsungusi, has already proved his credentials with Punjab FC last season (seven goals in 12 games), while Ivorian Ake Loba, Pole Lukasz Zwolinski and Aussie Chris Ikonomidis leave Habas with plenty of options going forward.

The new signings will also face stern competition for playing time from Indian attackers Edmund Lalrindika and David Lalhlansanga. Edmund was East Bengal’s hat-trick hero in the Durand Cup 2026 final against Mohun Bagan, while David himself grabbed a treble in the 7-2 thrashing of NorthEast United in the IFA Shield semifinal.

All in all, it is safe to say that Habas has all the necessary tools to make this team play football the way he sees it: absorb the pressure and punish on the counter. An admirable squad depth ensures that his players can also be rotated and still get results, especially with the AFC Champions League Two on their calendar.

And with a healthy enough pre-season, atleast compared to the rest of the league, his side will surely be confident of challenging not just for the ISL trophy but the League Shield as well.

East Bengal strongest 11

Gill (gk), Bhatt, Anwar, Zivulic, Jay, Jeakson, Rashid, Ramirez, Edmund, Vishnu, Nsungusi

East Bengal full squad

Goalkeeper: Phurba Lachenpa, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Gourab Shaw

Defenders: Anwar Ali, Diego Zivulic, Lalchungnunga, Narender Gahlot, Nacho Monsalve, Martand Raina, Jay Gupta, Sandip Mandi, Boris Singh, Mohamad Rakip, Hardik Bhatt

Midfielders: Mohammed Rashid, Jeakson Singh, Rohit Kumar, Ramsanga, Souvik Chakrabarti, Vanlalpeka Guite, Danish Farooq, Raynier Fernandes, Dani Ramírez, Asif Khan

Forwards: Naorem Mahesh Singh, Vishnu P V, Bipin Singh, Rohit Danu, Chris Ikonomidis, Jesin TK, Aké Loba, Nsungusi Effiong, Edmund Lalrindika, Lukasz Zwolinski, David Lalhlansanga