Ahead of the upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL 2023-24), East Bengal FC have signed Spanish duo Javier Siverio and Saul Crespo on one-year contracts.
Both players joined the Red and Gold Brigade on free transfers after their contracts with Hyderabad FC and Odisha FC respectively came to an end.
Also Check: ISL 2023-24 Transfer Live News and Updates
Siverio, who scored 9 times for HFC across all competitions last season, expressed his excitement at joining Emami East Bengal. Filled with excitement, the forward stated, “It’s an honour for me to join this century-old club. India is a great country and I am thrilled to continue my journey in the ISL. I really admire the vision of Coach Carles and the investors for taking this club forward. I’ll try to repose the management’s faith by scoring plenty of goals for the Red & Gold brigade. I’ve seen how passionate the East Bengal fans are and I can’t wait to see them fill the Salt Lake Stadium. Joy East Bengal!”
Also Check: ISL Transfers Window – All completed signings for ISL 2023-24
Commenting on the inclusion of Siverio and Crespo in the East Bengal FC squad, Mr Debabrata Mukherjee of Emami Group said, “We are pleased to have these two young and exciting players from Spain on board. Siverio has demonstrated being a quality finisher in the last two seasons of the ISL and Saul was one of the best midfielders in the league last year. We are confident that they will reach even greater heights under the mentorship of Coach Carles.”
East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat highlighted the skillsets of these young Spaniards, saying, “Siverio has been a fine goal-getter ever since he arrived in India. He has adapted himself to the rigours of the ISL after two years of playing here. I believe he will help to bolster our attack significantly. Saul, too, knows the competitiveness of the ISL and has played a key part in the midfield, which helped Odisha FC win the Super Cup. Both of them have excellent work rates and also the right attitude to take the club forward.”
For Crespo, representing East Bengal FC gives him an opportunity to play in front of the club’s massive fan base and take part in the iconic Kolkata derby.
“When I learnt that East Bengal was interested in me, I didn’t hesitate to join them. They are one of the biggest clubs in India with the best fans. I watched the Kolkata Derby last year and was very impressed. I really want to play in this team and help them win as many games as possible,” said Crespo.
Javier Siverio Career
Siverio, a graduate of the UD Las Palmas youth setup in 2015, had represented several Spanish teams, including Las Palmas B, Racing Santander B, and Racing Santander, before joining Indian Football with Hyderabad FC prior to the 2021-22 season.
The 25-year-old forward featured in 54 games for the Yellow and Black across all competitions during the past two seasons, scoring 16 goals and providing two assists. He played a crucial role in helping Hyderabad FC secure their first-ever ISL title during the 2021-22 season.
After two successful seasons with Hyderabad FC, Siverio is now ready to embark on a new journey in the ISL with East Bengal FC.
Saul Crespo Career
Central midfielder Saul played a pivotal role in Odisha FC‘s setup last season. His contributions were instrumental in guiding the Juggernauts to their first-ever ISL playoff qualification and their first Super Cup triumph.
Crespo, born in Ponferrada, had previously played for Spanish clubs such as Ponferradina, Atletico Astorga, and Arandina before venturing into the ISL last year.
The 26-year-old midfielder showcased his talent by playing 2,054 minutes, scoring 3 goals, and providing 2 assists in 26 matches across all tournaments during the previous season.
