The ISL 2024-25 season has seen clubs make ambitious and quality-filled signings in the transfer window after getting leverage in spending and being exempt from the Asian player signing Quota. Due to multiple players being allowed to sign outside of the salary cap starting this season, all the franchises purchased more high-value players who were not lured before due to high-salary demands. That has resulted in an incredible start to the season with almost all sides able to construct a competitive squad to compete for their respective honours. As the sport suggests, not all signings have hit the nail but most have. We pick out those transfers that have clicked so well that has helped the teams to elevate their levels in the early stage of this season:
Edgar Mendez (Bengaluru FC)
Bengaluru FC strengthened their frontline by securing the signature of Spanish striker Édgar Méndez and ISL’s proven scorer Jorge Diaz in this summer window. The latter was expected to be the main striker for the side. That seemed to be the case with the Argentinian starting almost every game in the Durand Cup where the Blues reached the semi-finals. However, Méndez’s profile is extensive with playing experience in Spain and both Americas. The striker’s physicality and prolificness are not to be denied as well. So, head coach Gerard Zaragoza started the former Deportivo Alaves striker in the league games and became an instant hit. The 34-year-old combined perfectly with the club captain Sunil Chhetri and has contributed to three goals in the first four ISL matches. Méndez assisted Vinith Venkatesh’s sole goal in the 1-0 opening match win against East Bengal before setting up Chhetri for the game-sealer against Hyderabad FC in the second league game. A goal was pending to reward for his actions and the striker grabbed his first for the club in the third match of the season against Shield holders Mohun Bagan Super Giant converting from close range for back-to-back 3-0 wins for the Blues. At present, Bengaluru FC leads the ISL table with Méndez being a key contributor in their unbeaten start.
Hugo Boumous (Odisha FC)
When Mohun Bagan Super Giant lifted the ISL Shield last season, Hugo Boumous was not part of the winning squad as he was frozen out of the team when Antonio Habas took charge in January this year. This indicated his exit from the side with the French Moroccan shifting to Odisha FC this summer under his former boss and another trophy-laden Spaniard Sergio Lobera. Boumous has been one of the most successful foreigners in the league and his best times have come under Lobera in FC Goa before spells in Mumbai City and then for the Kolkata giants. The skilful player with an eye for goal joined his fourth ISL club hoping to rejuvenate his career and be a marksman again for a side. The start of his life with Odisha FC suggests that Boumous will be a key player in the league again. The 27-year-old played a key role in Juggernaut's run to the Bandodkar Trophy final but has yet to score a league goal for his new team. Although, he has helped his teammate find the net. He assisted Roy Krishna’s stoppage-time goal in the 3-2 defeat to Chennaiyin FC in the league opener and then forced an own goal in the Punjab FC game but it was a consolation again. The change of air was needed and the attacking midfielder provided two crucial assists for Diego Mauricio and Mourtada Fall to score against Jamshedpur FC for the season’s first win. Fans are expecting more magic to come from his feet.
Filip Mrzljak (Punjab FC)
Punjab FC had hit the nail on all of their summer signings resulting in impressive showings from the club as they enjoy sitting at the high end of the table with a 100% start to the season. The main contributor to the success has been their Croatian midfielder Filip Mrzljak who has hit the ground running for the Shers since his free transfer this summer. A Dinamo Zagreb youth product, Mrzljak produced stunning performances in the Durand Cup helping Punjab FC to a quarterfinal finish in the Durand Cup. However, his best was about to come as he reserved it for the ISL. Mrzljak scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner in the 2-1 win over Kerala Blasters and could have added to his tally against Odisha FC in the second match with several close chances missed. The 31-year-old did the damage earlier by assisting another new signing Nihal Sudeesh for the opener in the eventual 2-1 win. Mrzljak did not stop there as he scored in the 2-0 win over Hyderabad FC cementing his importance again. His intelligence to start finding players in the right areas and his athleticism in counter-attacks work as an asset for Panagiotis Dilmperis’s style of football. Punjab FC wishes his impact stays throughout the season.
Armando Sadiku (FC Goa)
Albanian star Armando Sadiku signed with a lot of promise for Mohun Bagan Super Giant last year having scored his nation’s first goal in a European Championship and remaining as the highest active goalscorer in their history. Although the striker scored some clutch goals in the Mariners’s journey to win their first ISL Shield, he failed to live up to his full potential but rarely got to start games with preference given to the other striker Jason Cummings. With the Green and Maroons securing the signature of A-League’s all-time top-scorer Jamie Maclaren, the club decided to offload Sadiku this summer with FC Goa turning out to be his destination. Manolo Marquez carved out the way for the striker to be successful for the Gaurs making him the face of the attacking line with no other things to deal with. And behold, it worked as the 33-year-old refound himself and became a predator in the box. Sadiku scored six goals in Goa’s Bandodkar Trophy win and continued his goal-scoring form in the new ISL season. Despite giving the lead, his team lost in their league opener but his scoring streak ensured to bail the Gaurs out of tough situations in his next two matches. Sadiku scored a stoppage-time header to seal a late draw against Mohammedan SC and then bagged a brace in the crazy 3-3 draw with Northeast United. FC Goa wishes that he continues his scoring nature for long and bail them out of tough situations.
Alaeddine Ajaraie (NorthEast United)
NorthEast United's transformation under Juan Pedro Benali has been impressive with the club looking to replace their disappointment of narrowly missing out on the playoffs last time. The Highlanders made a sensational start to the new season by winning their first piece of silverware in history in the Durand Cup. One of the key architects in their triumph was the new striker signing Alaeddine Ajaraie, who has also sparked in the ISL. The Moroccan leads the scoring chart alongside the FC Goa pair Sadiku and Borja Herrera with four goals. However, he has combined for the most goals in the league with six and has taken more shots per 90 than any other player this season. Ajaraie has netted in each of the league fixtures starting with a late winner against promoted side Mohammedan SC in the league opener. He shined against Mohun Bagan Super Giant again, after scoring against them in the Durand Cup final, with a goal and assist though his side lost this time. The striker repeated the same thing in the 3-3 draw against FC Goa after scoring in the 1-1 draw with Kerala Blasters. The Highlanders are expected to reach more heights with Alaeddine’s magical lamp of scoring prowess.
