Did East Bengal Just Sign India International Jyoti Chouhan for the AFC Women’s Champions League?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- East Bengal strengthens its squad with Jyoti Chouhan.
- Jyoti is the first Indian to score a hat-trick for a European club.
- She joins the club ahead of the AFC Women’s Champions League.
- Jyoti's journey illustrates resilience and determination.
- She has represented India’s national team multiple times.
New Delhi, Nov 5 (NationPress) East Bengal has significantly enhanced their forward lineup by acquiring Jyoti Chouhan, the celebrated India international, a move announced by the club on Wednesday.
This strategic signing is timed perfectly as the team gears up for the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League and the impending Indian Women’s League (IWL) season, with the defending champions aiming to fortify their title defense.
Jyoti made headlines as the first Indian player to net a hat-trick for a European club, achieving this milestone with Dinamo Zagreb against ZNK Agram in 2023. She will be joining East Bengal under a contract that extends until the conclusion of the 2025–26 season, proudly wearing the number 99 jersey for the Red and Golds.
Upon her signing, Jyoti shared her enthusiasm about joining one of India’s most illustrious football institutions.
“Becoming a part of East Bengal is a dream realized for me. We have an extensive schedule ahead, and I am keen to make impactful contributions to this iconic club in both the AFC Women’s Champions League group stage and our Indian Women’s League title defense,” she expressed.
“Coach Anthony has been pivotal to my development as a footballer, and I’m thrilled to reconnect with him and several teammates. The unwavering support from the fans here is extraordinary, and I am eager to make them proud,” she added.
Having grown up in Sardarpur, a modest town in Madhya Pradesh, Jyoti's path to professional football exemplifies resilience and determination. Overcoming economic challenges, she pursued her passion for the sport, gaining recognition while representing Madhya Pradesh in National Championships before transferring to Kenkre FC. Her prolific goal-scoring in the Mumbai Women’s League attracted attention.
Her major break came with Gokulam Kerala FC, where she helped the team clinch the IWL title in the 2021–22 season, earning the title of Best Player in the Kerala Women’s League. This success led to her international stint with Dinamo Zagreb, where she thrived for two fruitful seasons, contributing to their victory in the Croatian Women’s Football Cup in the 2023–24 season and a runner-up finish in 2022–23.
The 25-year-old has also earned seven caps for the Indian women’s national team, marking her first international goal in a 5-2 triumph against Pakistan at the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship.