PANJIM: Chennaiyin FC on Wednesday announced defender Ryan Edwards as their final foreign signing ahead of the 2023-24 Indian Super League season.
“We’re delighted to have Ryan Edwards on board. We’ve chased him long and hard during the summer. He had a lot of offers from other clubs. He is an outstanding centre back and a real leader, very much in the mould of Peter Hartley who I had at Jamshedpur. Great leadership qualities, a wonderful player and he'll be a great addition to the squad. We look forward to welcoming him, as we do with all players, to Chennaiyin,” Head Coach Owen Coyle commented on the new recruit.
Edwards last turned out for Scottish side Dundee United where he made 112 appearances and scored eight goals over three seasons in all competitions; including 92 appearances in the Scottish first division.
Halfway through the 2021-22 season, Edwards was handed the captain’s armband as he led the team to a fourth place finish in the Premiership, helping his side qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League Qualification rounds. He went on to lead the side 53 times across all competitions, stated a press release.
Born in Liverpool, the centre-back displayed leadership qualities at an early age, as he captained the Blackburn FC side that reached the final of the 2011-12 FA Youth Cup.
“I see this as a very big and exciting challenge to be joining this big club and looking forward to hopefully having a successful season,” commented Edwards on the move to the club. The 29-year-old had spent all his time as a professional player in England before making the move to Scotland. He made 277 appearances for clubs such as Plymouth Argyle, Rochdale AFC and Blackpool FC including 136 appearances for English 4th Division side, Morecambe FC.
Punjab FC sign Greek defender Dimitrios
PTI, MOHALI: Punjab FC on Wednesday announced the signing of Greek defender Dimitrios Chatziisaias for the Indian Super League 2023-24 season.
The 30-year-old Chatziisaias has joined the ISL side having played for clubs in Greece, Turkey and Belgium earlier. Chatziisaias started his youth career with Omania Stavroupolis and played for Greek clubs Vataniakos FC, AO Glyfada FC and Chania FC as a senior.
He represented Panionis and later played for PAOK FC for three seasons, with whom he also won the Greek Cup. Chatziisaias also played for the Turkish club Caykur Rizespor and went to Belgium on loan to play for Cercle Brugge.
His last stint was with Greek club Atromitos FC where he played 55 matches and scored one goal. “Chatziisaias becomes the final foreigner in Punjab FC's roster and will be a key member of Staikos's (Vergetis) team for the season ahead,” the club said in a statement. The football director of Punjab FC Nikolaos Topoliatis said, “Dimitrios joins us having played in various countries of Europe, his experience will help to solidify our defence.”