CHANDIGARH: Punjab FC announced their 27-member squad for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season, their third season in India’s top-flight league, according to a release.
The Shers will start their ISL campaign against Jamshedpur FC on 21st February in Jamshedpur and will play their first home game on 9th March at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi against NorthEast United FC.
Blending a strong domestic core with carefully selected reinforcements, the Shers head into their third ISL campaign with a squad built to compete while staying true to their commitment to player development.
Head Coach, Panagiotis Dilmperis, in his second season with the club has picked a squad, which has balance of youth and experience. He has maintained the core from the last ISL season and the team which played in the Durand Cup and AIFF Super Cup. Dani Ramirez, Samir Zeljkovic, Namgail Jur Effiong, Bede Amarachi Osuji, Pablo Bevan Dos Santos are the foreign signings of the squad.
The squad also comprises of seven players from the academy, highlighting the importance of the youth structure within the club. Muhammad Suhail F, Pramveer Singh, Manglenthang Kipgen, Vishal Yadav and Singamayum Shami who have already made their senior team debuts will be joined by Ayush Deshwal and Thoungamba Singh Usham this season.
The Head Coach will be supported by Assistant Coach Konstantinos Katsaras and Indian Assistant Coach Sankarlal Chakraborty along with Papaioannou Ioannis as the Strength and Conditioning Coach and Vinay Singh as the Goalkeeping Coach.
The goalkeeping department sees the arrival of Arshdeep Singh, whose presence adds assurance and leadership at the back. He is joined by Muheet Shabir and Ayush Deshwal, giving Punjab FC a well-rounded unit equipped to handle the demands of a long and competitive season.
Defensively, the Shers boast a robust and versatile lineup. Bijay Varghese, Muhamed Uwais, Pramveer Singh, Nongmaikapam Suresh Meitei and Khaiminthang Lhungdim bring physicality and composure, while Pablo Bevan Dos Santos adds experience to the backline. Young defenders such as Likmabam Rakesh Meitei, Leon Augustine, and Thoungamba Singh Usham further strengthen the defensive structure.
In midfield, Punjab FC possesses a dynamic blend of creativity, control, and energy. Dani Ramirez is expected to play a pivotal role in orchestrating attacking moves, with Samir Zeljkovic and Vinit Rai offering stability and balance in central areas. Princeton Rebello’s attacking instincts complement the work rate of Ricky Shabong, Manglenthang Kipgen, Nikhil Prabhu, and Singamayum Shami.
