Punjab FC have announced a 27-member squad for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season, blending an experienced core with 10 academy graduates — three more than last season. The club opens its campaign with a home fixture on Wednesday against Odisha FC at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

Retained Players and Key Signings

Fourteen players from last season's ISL squad have been retained, among them national team regulars Bijoy Varghese, Ricky Shabong, Muhammed Uvais, Nikhil Prabhu, and Muhammad Suhail F, alongside Arshdeep Singh, Khaiminthang Lhungdim, and Leon Augustine. New domestic recruits Mohammad Inam and Gurkirat Singh also feature in the squad.

The foreign contingent comprises Patrick Bahanack, Mickaël Malsa, Diego Raposo, Alfred Planas Moya, and Raphaël Messi Bouli. Notably, Bouli hit the ground running in pre-season, registering three goals and three assists in the IFA Shield, where Punjab FC reached the semifinals.

Academy Graduates Earn Their Place

The 10 academy products in the squad earned selection through performances in age-group leagues and the IFA Shield. Returning academy players — goalkeeper Ayush Deshwal, midfielder Manglenthang Kipgen, and forwards Muhammad Suhail F and Vishal Yadav — are joined by new faces: defenders Ngarin Shaiza, Sohel Khan, and Karish Soram; midfielders Bishu Sharma and Laishram Rishikanta Meitei; and forward Konsam Sanathoi Singh. Sharma and Meitei drew particular attention for their displays in the IFA Shield.

Coach Pavlos Dermitzakis on Squad Balance

Head Coach Pavlos Dermitzakis expressed confidence ahead of the new campaign. 'This is a squad built with a clear idea of how we want to play, and I am very happy with the balance we have. We have experience in every department, players who know this club and the league, and ten young players from our academy who have earned their place through their work every single day,' he said. 'The ISL has a demanding schedule, and every player in this group will have a role to play. The players have prepared well, the hunger in the dressing room is there, and we are ready to begin.'

Dermitzakis will be supported by Assistant Coach Georgios Angelidis, Indian Assistant Coach Sankarlal Chakraborty, Strength and Conditioning Coach Christos Vorgiatzidis, and Goalkeeping Coach Vinay Singh.

Departmental Breakdown

All three goalkeepers from last season have been retained, with Arshdeep Singh leading the department alongside youngsters Muheet Shabir and Ayush Deshwal. The defence is anchored by Bijoy Varghese, Muhammed Uvais, Suresh Meitei, and Khaiminthang Lhungdim, with new signing Patrick Bahanack and academy trio Shaiza, Khan, and Soram adding depth.

In midfield, Mickaël Malsa and Manglenthang Kipgen are expected to orchestrate attacking moves, with Nikhil Prabhu, Ricky Shabong, and Mohammad Inam providing stability. The forward line carries variety and promise: Raphaël Messi Bouli, Diego Raposo, and Alfred Planas Moya lead the foreign attacking options, while Muhammad Suhail F adds pace on the wings and the versatile Leon Augustine offers cover across multiple roles. Gurkirat Singh, under-20 India international Vishal Yadav, and Sanathoi Singh round out the attacking options.

Full Squad List

Goalkeepers: Arshdeep Singh, Muheet Shabir, Ayush Deshwal

Defenders: Khaiminthang Lhungdim, Ngarin Shaiza, Jephthe Patrick Gerard Bahanack, Mohammed Sohel Khan, Bijoy Varghese, Nongmaikapam Suresh Meitei, Muhammed Uvais Moyikkal, Karish Soram

Midfielders: Naravi Nikhil Jayantha Prabhu, Mickaël Ramon Vincent Malsa, Ricky John Shabong, Bishu Sharma, Laishram Rishikanta Meitei, Manglenthang Kipgen, Mohammad Inam

Forwards: Raphael Eric Messi Bouli, Diego Henrique Oliveira Raposo, Alfred Planas Moya, Leon Augustine, Muhammad Suhail F, Bikash Singh Sagolsem, Konsam Sanathoi Singh, Vishal Yadav, Gurkirat Singh

With their season opener against Odisha FC on the horizon, Punjab FC's blend of seasoned campaigners and academy-bred talent will face an early test of Dermitzakis's system — and of whether the club's youth pipeline can deliver at the top flight.