Ishan Pandita became the first Indian footballer to sign with a Spanish La Liga club by penning down a one-year professional contract with CD Leganes.
Pandita is a 19-year-old striker of Kashmiri origin hailing from Bengaluru. Ishan will join Leganes’ U-19 outfit and will play in Division de Honor Juvenil, which is Spain’s top youth division. The young forward has been given the No. 50 jersey for the ongoing campaign.
Ishan Pandita signs with Spanish La Liga club CD Leganes. (Photo: Facebook)
“Ishan will be eyeing for the main team. He will be playing for the U-19 team and will be eyeing the main team. He has been in Spain for the last three years and I am happy for him. The club football levels at the U-19 level are of a high standard there,” Neeraj Pandita, Ishan’s father was quoted as saying by the official AIFF website.
AIFF chief Praful Patel was delighted with Ishan Pandita and he said: “A landmark achievement at such a young age.”
Heartiest congratulations to Ishan Pandita, first Indian to sign for Spanish @LaLiga club. A landmark achievement at such a young age.
— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) October 5, 2016
Elsewhere, Leganes has also made history by gaining promotion to the Spanish top division this season, they are currently 11th in the table with 10 points from 7 matches.
