ISL Transfer Watch: Chennaiyin FC sign RoundGlass Punjab's Aakash Sangwan and West Bengal's Sajal Bag

Bengaluru, June 21: Two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions Chennaiyin FC have bolstered their squad with the signings of defender Aakash Sangwan and midfielder Sajal Bag on two-year contracts ahead of the upcoming season.

While the 26-year-old Sangwan is the fourth defender signed by the Marina Machans this summer, promising West Bengal youngster Bag, becomes the seventh midfielder to join the club.

Both players will be playing in the ISL for the first time.

"We are happy to welcome two new members to the Chennaiyin family in Aakash Sangwan and Sajal Bag," said Chennaiyin FC co-owner Vita Dani.

The left-footed Sangwan will be joining the Marina Machans from RoundGlass Punjab, formerly known as Minerva Punjab, with whom he lifted an I-League title in 2018.

"In Aakash, we have an I-League winner who has shown on many occasions that he is a player that can be relied upon in the backline. We are also aware of young Sajals' exploits in the recently concluded Santosh Trophy with Bengal and we believe we can provide him the support he needs to break through," she added.

Haryana-born footballer, Sangwan has a sizable amount of experience under his belt with 66 matches in his professional career. Since making his debut for The Warriors in 2016, he has played five I-League seasons for them, scoring one goal and providing two assists. He also had a brief stint with Churchill Brothers FC for whom he featured thrice during 2019-20 I-League season before returning to RoundGlass Punjab.

"I am super excited for my first season with Chennaiyin FC. It's a club I always admired and glad to be a part of," said Sangwan.

Bag, on the other hand, will join Chennaiyin FC's ranks after an impressive showing in West Bengal's runners-up finish in the Santosh Trophy.

The 19-year-old Bag was part of Mohun Bagan's youth set-up where he was adjudged Best Youth Player of the Season in 2019-20. He has played 46 matches across various domestic competitions, scoring six goals.

"I am delighted to join Chennaiyin FC. I am very excited with the opportunity and motivated to train harder. I want to contribute in achieving the ISL trophy," elated Bag said.

ISL Transfer Watch: Mohammad Sajid Dhot to stay with Chennaiyin FC for two more seasons

Chennaiyin had handed defender Mohammad Sajid Dhot a new two-year contract.

The new deal will keep him at the club until 2024.

ISL: Chennayin FC name Thomas Brdaric as new coach

In the 2020-21 ISL season, the Yellow Brigade finished a poor eighth and failed to make it to the play-offs.

They had started the ISL 2021-22 season under Bozidar Bandovic before the well-travelled Montenegrin coach and the club decided to part ways midway through the campaign following a string of poor results.

Ex-India international Sabir Pasha then took over the Yellow Brigade on an interim basis. Last week they roped in Thomas Brdaric as the new head coach of the club ahead of the upcoming season.

In his most recent spell, the German coach led KF Vllaznia to the Albanian Cup for two successive seasons (2020-21 and 2021-22). The team also finished runners up in the Albanian Championship in the 2020-21 season. Brdaric was thereafter awarded Coach of the Year 2021.