Kolkata: SC East Bengal strengthened their ranks on Friday with the signing of Darren Sidoel, a young Dutch defensive midfielder who signed a one-year deal with the club that will keep him at the club till the end of the Hero Indian Super League 2021-22 season.
Sidoel, who played for Hércules CF in Spain under SC East Bengal head coach Manuel ‘Manolo’ Diaz, is the Spaniard’s fifth foreign signing. The other four international players are Slovenian midfielder Amir Dervievi, Australian defender Tomislav Mrcela, Croatian center-back Franjo Prce, and Nigerian forward Daniel Chima Chukwu.
The 23-year-old player joins SC East Bengal from Córdoba CF in Spain’s second level, where he spent last season on loan at Hércules under Diaz’s coaching. Sidoel, number six, can also play at center-back and central midfield and is prepared to push the ball up the pitch.
“SC East Bengal presents a new opportunity for me. I have played in a few European countries in Europe and picked up quite a lot. I am eager to learn and I believe I can develop playing in the Indian Super League,” Sidoel said after signing on the dotted line. I have played under the coach (Manolo) before in Spain and that helps. We have a good understanding and I am looking forward to reuniting with him again.”
Sidoel, a member of Ajax’s illustrious youth system, debuted in the Dutch league’s second division (Eerste Divisie) for Jong Ajax (Ajax’s reserve squad) in the 2017–18 season, helping them win the title. He also played for Ajax II in the UEFA Youth League.
Sidoel began his career in the Netherlands with ADO Den Haag before joining Ajax in 2012. He was signed by English club Reading after making his Eerste Divisie debut with Jong Ajax in the 2017–18 season, giving him a taste of English football. He then moved to FC Arda Kardzhali in Bulgaria’s top league before joining Cordoba in 2020. Sidoel was a member of the Netherlands’ U-15, U-16, and U-17 teams.
On November 21, the Red-and-Gold Brigade will play Jamshedpur FC in their Hero Indian Super League 2021-22 season opener at the Tilak Maidan Stadium.
