ISL 2017: NorthEast United sign Sambinha from Sporting Lisbon

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Bengaluru, September 1: Indian Super League franchise North East United Fc have at last captured their first foreign signing of the season as they have signed Guinea-Bissau centre-back Sambinha from Portuguese top-flight club Sporting Lisbon's 'B' team.

North East fans were in the uproar for the last one month as the ISL side was the only team not to sign a single foreign player till now.

Total 47 foreign players were signed by the other clubs and as the transfer window was scheduled to close on the 31st the fans became impatient. However, the Highlander's finally have broken the deadlock and signed the defender.

He will join players like Robert Lalthlamuana, Nirmal Chettri, Reagan Singh and Abdul Hakku in the defensive unit and is assumed to partner Robert in central defence.

A statement on Sporting's official website announced the news which read: "Sporting CP has reached an agreement with North East United Football Club for the definitive transfer of the player Sambinha.

"Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol, SAD announces that it has reached an agreement with North East United Football Club for the definitive transfer of the player Sambinha, with Sporting SAD holding 50% of the athlete's pass.

"Sporting SAD wishes Sambinha the greatest personal and professional happiness."

The defender has also appeared in the Guinea-Bissau national team in 2015 and last year was at Sporting Covilla on loan from Sporting Lisbon's B group.

The defender who can also play as a defensive midfielder has mostly played out on loan till now in Europe and the USA. It will be the first time that the 24-year-old comes to India and it is believed that the NorthEast’s new head coach Joao de Deus worked a lot to persuade the Portuguese club to let Sambinha move to the ISL.