ISL draft: What to expect in season four?
The Indian Super League 2017 witnessed a spike of over 103% in domestic players’ salary as compared to the inaugural edition in 2014, as the ten clubs together spent Rs. 48.85 crore at the Indian player draft in Mumbai.
Published : Jul 23, 2017 23:55 IST
The ISL 2017 Player Draft saw the ten clubs spend a total of Rs. 48.85 crore on Sunday, to sign 156 of India's best and most promising players. Defender Anas Edathodika and creative midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh - valued at 1.10 crore each - were the top-picks of the day and were lapped up by Jamshedpur FC and Atletico de Kolkata respectively. Out of an Rs. 18 crore kitty, most clubs have an average of around Rs. 13 crores left, which they will employ to recruit foreign stars. Here is a sum-up of the final squads of all the ten-teams and a brief analysis of their key signings.
Atletico de Kolkata
| Player | Position |
| Debjit Majumder | Goalkeeper |
| Kunzang Bhutia | Goalkeeper |
| Prabir Das | Defender |
| Keegan Pereira | Defender |
| Augustin Fernandes | Defender |
| Ashutosh Mehta | Defender |
| Anwar Ali | Defender |
| Eugeneson Lyngdoh | Midfielder |
| Jayesh Rane | Midfielder |
| Shankar Sampingiraj | Midfielder |
| Hitesh Sharma | Midfielder |
| Rupert Nongrum | Midfielder |
| Ronald Singh | Midfielder |
| Robin Singh | Striker |
| Bipin Singh | Striker |
Defending champion, Atletico de Kolkata spent huge money in the Indian player draft and signed the much sought after midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh, for a joint-highest fee of Rs 1.10 crore and striker Robin Singh for Rs 65 lakh. The side also acquired winger Jayesh Rane, thus summing up a formidable forward-line. It looks well-poised to defend its title as Ashutosh Mehta and Anwar Ali will largely reinforce its defensive powers.
Chennaiyin FC
| Player | Position |
| Karanjit Singh | Goalkeeper |
| Pawan Kumar | Goalkeeper |
| Shahin Lal Meloly | Goalkeeper |
| Jerry Lalrinzuala | Defender |
| Dhanachandra Singh | Defender |
| Fulganco Cardozo | Defender |
| Keenan Almeida | Defender |
| Francisc Fernandes | Midfielder |
| Anirudh Thapa | Midfielder |
| Thoi Singh | Midfielder |
| Bikramjit Singh | Midfielder |
| Germanpreet Singh | Midfielder |
| Dhanapal Ganesh | Midfielder |
| Sanjay Balmuchu | Midfielder |
| Jeje Lalpekhlua | Striker |
| Mohammed Rafi | Striker |
2015 winner Chennaiyin FC retained star-striker Jeje Lalpekhlua and goalkeeper Karanjit Singh, along with under-21 players Jerry Lalrinzuala and Anirudh Thapa. The midfield has been strengthened with the arrival of Thoi Singh and Bikramjit Singh, while Dhanachandra Singh and Fulganco Cardozo will bolster its defence.
Jamshedpur FC
| Player | Position |
| Subrata Paul | Goalkeeper |
| Sanjiban Ghosh | Goalkeeper |
| Anas Edathodika | Defender |
| Robin Gurung | Defender |
| Shouvik Ghosh | Defender |
| Sairuat Kima | Defender |
| Yumnam Raju | Defender |
| Mehtab Hossain | Midfielder |
| Souvik Chakrabarti | Midfielder |
| Bikash Jairu | Midfielder |
| Jerry Mawihmingthanga | Midfielder |
| Farukh Choudhary | Striker |
| Ashim Biswas | Striker |
| Sumeet Passi | Striker |
Jamshedpur FC made a grand entry to the ISL by signing Anas Edathodika for a whopping fee of Rs. 1.1 crore. The new entrant also acquired the services of shot-stopper and former national captain Subrata Paul for Rs. 87 lakh, along with Souvik Chakrabarti at midfield, who won the Federation Cup in 2016 with Mohun Bagan. Delhi Dynamos
| Player | Position |
| Albino Gomes | Goalkeeper |
| Sukhadev Patil | Goalkeeper |
| Arnab Das Sharma | Goalkeeper |
| Pritam Kotal | Defender |
| Munmun Lugun | Defender |
| Lalhmangaihsanga 'Sena' Ralte | Defender |
| Pratik Chaudhari | Defender |
| Rowilson Rodrigues | Defender |
| Sajit Dhot | Defender |
| Seityasen Singh | Midfielder |
| Lallianzuala Chhangte | Midfielder |
| Romeo Fernandes | Midfielder |
| David Ngaihte | Midfielder |
| Simranjeet Singh | Midfielder |
Delhi Dynamos has a strong attacking side this season, with explosive winger Seityasen Singh leading the forward line. Lalhmangaihsanga 'Sena' Ralte and Rowilson Rodrigues will anchor the defence while Albino Gomes, who played a key role in Aizawl FC's I-league title triumph, will man the posts.
READ: How the teams fared at the draft
Kerala Blasters FC
| Player | Position |
| Subhasish Roy Chowdhury | Goalkeeper |
| Samuel Shadap | Defender |
| Sandesh Jhingan | Defender |
| Rino Anto | Defender |
| Lalruatthara | Defender |
| Lalthakima | Defender |
| Pritam Kumar Singh | Defender |
| Siam Hanghal | Midfielder |
| Milan Singh | Midfielder |
| Ajith Sivan | Midfielder |
| Arata Izumi | Midfielder |
| Loken Meitei | Midfielder |
| Jackichand Singh | Midfielder |
| Prashanth Karuthadathkuni | Striker |
| Karan Sawhney | Striker |
| C K Vineeth | Striker |
The Blasters retained two of its star performers, C K Vineeth and Sandesh Jhingan, who have excelled in the yellow jersey. While its most expensive signing Rino Anto will look to shine in defence, the midfield will be spear-headed by 25-year-old Manipuri winger Jackichand Singh and Japanese-Indian Izumi Arata, who will look to feed the attack. North East United FC
| Player | Position |
| Gurpreet Singh | Goalkeeper |
| Ravi Kumar | Goalkeeper |
| TP Rehenesh | Goalkeeper |
| Abdul Hakku | Defender |
| Gursimrat Gill | Defender |
| Reagan Singh | Defender |
| Robert Lalthlamuana | Defender |
| Nirmal Chettri | Defender |
| Lalrindika Ralte | Midfielder |
| Rowllin Borges | Midfielder |
| Sushil Meitei | Midfielder |
| Lalrempuia Fanai | Midfielder |
| Malemnganba Meitei | Midfielder |
| Holicharan Narzary | Striker |
| Seminlen Doungel | Striker |
NEUFC was among the clubs to spend the least in the player draft but boasts one of the most balanced sides so far. The presence of the experienced Robert Lalthlamuana - who has won all possible domestic honors - will guide the defence while its attack will be represented by the young Holicharan Narzary.
FC Goa
| Player | Position |
| Laxmikant Kattimani | Goalkeeper |
| Naveen Kumar | Goalkeeper |
| Bruno Colaco | Goalkeeper |
| Narayan Das | Defender |
| Chinglensana Singh | Defender |
| Mohamed Ali | Defender |
| Amey Ranawade | Defender |
| Anthony D'Souza | Midfielder |
| Mandar Rao Dessai | Midfielder |
| Pronay Halder | Midfielder |
| Brandon Fernandes AM | Midfielder |
| Seriton Fernandes | Midfielder |
| Pratesh Shirodkar | Midfielder |
| Jovel Martins | Midfielder |
| Mohammad Yasir |
2015 runner-up, FC Goa held on to goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani and Mandar Dessai, who have each made over 25 appearances for the side. Its key signings of the day would be attacking midfielder Brandon Fernandes - who had an impressive season with I-League side Churchill brothers last season - and young defender Narayan Das.
Bengaluru FC
| Player | Position |
| Lalthuammawia Ralte | Goalkeeper |
| Calvin Abhishek | Goalkeeper |
| Abhra Mondal | Goalkeeper |
| Rahul Bheke | Defender |
| Joyner Lourenco | Defender |
| Nishu Kumar | Defender |
| Collin Abranches | Defender |
| Zohmingliana Ralte | Defender |
| Subhashish Bose | Defender |
| Lenny Rodrigues | Midfielder |
| Alwyn George | Midfielder |
| Boithang Haokip | Midfielder |
| Harmanjot Khabra | Midfielder |
| Malsawmzuala | Midfielder |
| Udanta Singh | Midfielder |
| Sunil Chhetri | Striker |
| Thongkosiem Haokip | Striker |
New-comer Bengaluru FC was the top-spender of the draft and splurged over six crores to sign 13 Indian players, while retaining four others. The Federation Cup champion will look to impress in its debut season and will be led by the charismatic Sunil Chhetri, who will commandeer its attack and will be duly supported by Udanta Singh and Lenny Rodrigues.
FC Pune City
| Player | Position |
| Vishal Kaith | Goalkeeper |
| Kamaljit Singh | Goalkeeper |
| Pawan Kumar | Goalkeeper |
| Adil Khan | Defender |
| Lalchhuanmawia Fanai | Defender |
| Nim Dorjee Tamang | Defender |
| Wayne Vaz | Defender |
| Gurtej Singh | Defender |
| Jewel Raja | Midfielder |
| Isaac Vanmalsawma | Midfielder |
| Harpreet Singh | Midfielder |
| Rohit Kumar | Midfielder |
| Kean Lewis | Midfielder |
| Ashique Kuruniyan | Striker |
| Ajay Singh | Striker |
| Baljit Sahni | Striker |
The Pune side spent the least at the draft but managed to sign the dangerous striker Baljit Sahni, who impressed during his time at Chennaiyin FC. Gurtej Singh would be one to watch out in the back-line while Jewel Raja and Kean Lewis will be effective in midfield. Another interesting move was the retention of youngster Ashique Kuruniyan, who had a stint with Villarreal CF.
Mumbai City FC
| Player | Position |
| Amrinder Singh | Goalkeeper |
| Arindam Bhattacharya | Goalkeeper |
| Kunal Sawant | Goalkeeper |
| Raju Gaikwad | Defender |
| Aiborlang Khongjee | Defender |
| Biswajit Saha | Defender |
| Mehrajuddin Wadoo | Defender |
| Lalchhawnkima | Defender |
| Sanju Pradhan | Midfielder |
| Sehnaj Singh | Midfielder |
| Rakesh Oram | Midfielder |
| Abinash Ruidas | Midfielder |
| Sahil Tavora | Midfielder |
| Zakeer Mundampara | Midfielder |
| Balwant Singh | Striker |
| Pranjal Bhumij | Striker |
Towering defender, Mehrajuddin Wadoo was a great pick for Mumbai City FC, who also signed seasoned shot-stopper Arindam Bhattacharya. While Wadoo will manage the defence, striker Balwant Singh - who is the fifth most-expensive player of the draft and was signed for Rs. 65 lakh - will be lethal up front.