Chennaiyin FC has bolstered its squad for the 2024-25 season with the signing of seasoned Indian defender Mandar Rao Dessai. The 32-year-old from Goa joins the team on a two-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2026.

Dessai brings a wealth of experience and a winning pedigree to Chennaiyin FC. He won the ISL title with Mumbai City FC in 2021 and secured three League Shields—one with FC Goa in 2020 and two with Mumbai City in 2021 and 2023—making him one of the most successful players in the league's history.

Starting his professional career with Dempo SC in the I-League in 2013, Dessai joined FC Goa for the inaugural ISL season in 2014. He has since made 155 league appearances, including 14 playoff matches, and has recorded six goals and 12 assists. In 2020, he became the first player to reach 100 ISL appearances.

Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle expressed his enthusiasm for the new signing: “In Mandar Rao Dessai, we have got bags of experience coming in at left back. He’s a wonderful defender who can honestly say he knows the Indian football scene better than most, having made more appearances than nearly any other player in the history of the league.”

Commenting on his new club, Dessai said, “Chennaiyin is a champion club. They’ve been champions twice and have reached the playoffs many times. I’ve played against them before and they always tried to have a good team.”

Dessai becomes Chennaiyin’s seventh signing of the summer, further strengthening their squad for the upcoming season.

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