East Bengal FC Signs French Star Madih Talal for Two Years

Indian Super League (ISL) club East Bengal FC has announced the signing of French playmaker Madih Talal on a two-year contract, which will last until the end of the 2025-26 season. Talal, who was the top assist-provider in the last ISL season, joins ISL 2023-24 Golden Boot winner Dimitrios Diamantakos, Kalinga Super Cup 2024 top scorer Cleiton Silva, and Durand Cup 2023 Golden Boot winner David Lalhlansanga to strengthen East Bengal’s attacking set-up.

Coach’s Delight

East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat expressed his delight at the signing. He said, “Talal has been one of the top foreigners to make an impact in their debut ISL season. His talent greatly enhanced his team’s attack, due to which he not only recorded the most assists in the league but also scored a good number of goals. After a few conversations, Talal prioritized East Bengal FC over other ISL clubs, knowing how important he is going to be for our new project.”

Talal’s Impressive Stats

Since making his debut in Indian football in August last year, Talal has featured in each of Punjab FC’s 22 ISL games and three Kalinga Super Cup fixtures, accumulating 1,910 minutes of playing time across both competitions. The 26-year-old contributed either a goal or an assist in five of Punjab’s six ISL victories last season. Besides scoring six goals and setting the record for the most assists (10) in ISL 2023-24, Talal logged two assists in the Kalinga Super Cup. He also topped the list for the most dribbles completed (42) in ISL 2023-24 and created the second-most chances (57) in the league.

Talal’s Journey

Before moving to India, Talal represented several clubs across Europe, including France’s Amiens SC, Entente SSG, Red Star FC, and US Avranches, Spain’s Las Rozas CF, and Greece’s A.E. Kifisia.

Talal’s Excitement

Thrilled to join East Bengal FC, Talal said, “East Bengal FC’s contribution to Indian football is immense, and I am honoured to commit my future to this legendary club. I am very excited to meet my new teammates and the incredible fans who make this club special.”