The new Indian Super League season is upon us, and as the league continues to grow and try to improve its positioning around the world, it is time to take a look back and see what has happened in the past.
Big transfers are something to get excited about in any league, but in particular when looking at smaller leagues such as the ISL. The amount of money spent here is much smaller, and if teams are looking to bring in a player for big money, relative to the league of course, then they need to make sure they hit the mark and get it right.
Football isn’t the most popular sport in India, with cricket dominating that, but that hasn’t stopped the ISL from growing, and seeing more people become interested in the games. It is a hobby on the rise, but there are many others in the country also rising at the same time. Perhaps one of the biggest competitors to the ISL is the online gambling industry, which continues to grow, and covers sports betting, casino gaming and more. With help for players, such as this online gambling guide here, there has never been an easier time to get involved.
So, who are the three most expensive ISL players of all time?
Boumous arrived in India after playing in Ligue 2, with his first season in India being the 2017/18 season. He played for FC Goa when arriving, and scored an impressive 37 goals from 47 games, which instantly put him in the shop window for other clubs in India.
The team to make the move for him was Mumbai City FC, who had cash to spend after the City Football Group moved into the ISL with an investment in the club. They wrapped up his signature, moving the attacking midfielder to Mumbai City FC, and at the time, he was the most expensive transfer in ISL history.
Ralte is another player that caught the eye of the City Football Group, who eventually landed him after a battle with other clubs. Ralte was named as the ‘emerging player of the season’ when playing for NorthEast United in the ISL, and on top of that, he was the youngest captain in the league when captaining that team.
ATK Mohun Bagan was the team battling with Mumbai for Ralte, and it was Mumbai that came out on top. That battle let to him signing for Mumbai, and he looks set to go on and be an all-time star of the ISL.
The second time that Boumous has been on the list, and his transfer this summer became the new biggest transfer in ISL history. After playing for FC Goal, he moved to Mumbai City and has been excellent there. Last season, Boumous has three goals and nine assists from 15 appearances.
That led ATK Mohun Bagan to make a move for him. After losing out on Ralte to Mumbai, Boumous was a player they wanted to make their own, and at just over 2 crore, he now holds the title for being the most expensive signing in ISL history, as well as being the third most expensive too, for an earlier move.