East Bengal FC have strengthened their defence with the signing of Jordanian centre-back Hijazi Maher. The 25-year-old defender joins the Indian Super League outfit as Jordan Elsey’s replacement. The Australian picked up a knee injury during the Durand Cup final and will be out for several months.
Therefore the head coach Carles Cuadrat was quick to finalize Maher, who was available as a free agent. The lanky defender is also a part of the current Jordan national team and will now help the Red and Golds scale heights in the ISL.
Maher has featured in the Jordan Premier League side Al-Hussein SC and the Iraqi Premier League side Zakho SC on loan. He has played 29 matches last season and returned with five goals.
The 25-year-old has won two Jordan FA Cups and a Jordan Super Cup and holds the record for the most minutes played by a player in the 2021 season.
Cuadrat was intrigued by Maher’s interest to flourish in yet another Asian league after featuring in the Iraq Premier League. The Spaniard believes that Maher will have a big impact on Indian football.
“After playing in the Iraq Premier League last season, the Jordan international player was ready to keep playing in another interesting Asian league to have the opportunity to show his talent and be ready for a national team call-up. It’s nice to find a solution to Elsey’s injury in a young player ready to fight for a place and wants to make an impact in Indian football,” East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat commented on the signing.
In a very short period, Elsey became a fan favourite and delivered some exception al performances for East Bengal, He found his feet really well in new conditions and also developed a good partnership with Lalchungnunga. So losing out on him due to injury was a big blow for Cuadrat and for the club.
Now it remains to be seen how Maher fares in his position and adapts to his new conditions in the coming weeks. The Red and Gold brigade will need the Jordanian to come good as the ISL season has already begun with East Bengal playing out a 0-0 draw in their first match.
Maher is eager to don the Red and Gold jersey of the club and prove his mettle on Indian shores. “I am very happy to join this historic club and play in the Indian Super League. I thank the coach and the club for giving me the opportunity to play here. Everyone can see the huge popularity that the league has garnered in recent times. I’m very excited to meet the fans and play in the iconic Kolkata derby,” he said after signing for the Kolkata club.
He will have his medicals and the other formalities in Kolkata before registering as East Bengal’s new player in the ISL.
