Bengaluru FC has signed the services of defender Hira Mondal ahead of the new season of the Hero ISL on a two-year deal, which will keep him at the club till the end of the 2023-24 season, the club announced on Tuesday. The 25-year-old full-back had played SC East Bengal in the previous season of the Hero Indian Super League.

Mondal has become the fifth signing for the Blues after Prabir Das, Javi Hernandez, Faisal Ali, and Amrit Gope. On the other hand, Mondal had impressed while playing for Mohammedan SC in the I-league and he was also named in the team of the season in 2021.

After his impressive show in the I-league, the youngster was roped in by SC East Bengal on a one-year contract in 2021.

SC East Bengal had a horrible previous season as they finished the tournament as cellar-dwellers but Mondal’s performance was notable as he gave his best.

Meanwhile, Mondal started his youth career with Calcutta Port Trust back in 2015, and then he played for teams like Rainbow SC, Tollygunge Agragami and Peerless in Kolkata.

Mondal is delighted to join hands with Bengaluru FC ahead of the ninth edition of the competition.

“I’m really very happy to join Bengaluru FC, a team that has been among the most successful in the last decade of Indian football. The core of the Indian National team plays for BFC, and to think that I will be able to share a dressing room with them is an amazing feeling. I want to make the most of this experience and give my best both on and off the pitch,” said Mondal, following the completion of formalities on his deal.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC finished in sixth place with eight wins in 20 matches with a tally of 29 points in the previous season and thus could not qualify for the semifinal stages.