It’s a very proud moment for all Indian as an Indian has finally signed a pro-contract with a club in one of the top five European leagues. Bengaluru’s Ishan Pandita has become the first Indian footballer to sign a professional contract with a club in La Liga, the top tier of Spanish football.

Pandita will join the U-19 squad that plays in Division de Honor Juvenil, which is renowned for young footballers.

“My first goal is to get some game-time and score a few goals. If I can progress from the youth team and debut for the first team before the end of the season, that will be great,” “I had trials at Getafe (currently in the second tier) in March, and I was very close to signing with them. But they got relegated at the end of the season. The whole point for me was to sign for a La Liga club and then Leganes showed interest.” He said to the Hindu

The striker grew up in the Philippines before he moved to Bengaluru in 2009. He was part of Almeria’s youth system for a couple of years and had trials with Spanish clubs, eventually getting picked up by Leganes.

The 2016-17 season of the Division de Honor Juvenil has already begun and Leganes sit 8th in group V of the league.

Tags: AlmeriabengaluruFootballIndian footballIshan panditaLa ligaLeganesSportsSports News