Mohun Bagan unlikely to participate in Durand Cup 2025, strengthens CFL squad by signing Gurnaj

Indian Super League (ISL) champion Mohun Bagan Super Giant is unlikely to participate in the Durand Cup 2025, with the future of India’s top flight still unclear.

The club has a tentative schedule for the first week of August to start its first team’s pre-season, and had initially planned to field its reserve team for the oldest tournament of Asia, set to be played between July 22 and August 23.

However, with no clarity on the future of ISL, officials at the club are mulling the idea of withdrawing from the tournament altogether.

It is not the first club to do so, with Kerala Blasters, Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City, and FC Goa thinking along similar lines. However, none of them were available for an official comment.

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The clubs are waiting for the Supreme Court’s judgement on the All India Football Federation’s Constitution on July 18 — a decision that has also stalled their transfer plans and pre-season plans.

On the other hand, East Bengal, Punjab FC and Mohammedan Sporting are among the ISL clubs who have told  Sportstar that they intend to participate in the tournament, while Diamond Harbour from the I-League will also join them.

Gurnaj joins Mohun Bagan from East Bengal on a free transfer

Meanwhile, in a bid to strengthen its reserve squad, Mohun Bagan has roped in India Under-19 international Gurnaj Singh Grewal on a free transfer.

The 18-year-old, who had joined the Red-and-Gold Brigade in 2023, was released by the club this summer, and he has signed a multi-year contract with the Mariners.

A defensive midfielder, Gurnaj made his international debut with the under-17 side under coach Bibiano Fernandes and was a member of the team that won the SAFF U-19 Championship last month.
| Photo Credit:
AIFF MEDIA

Gurrnaj was part of the East Bengal reserves squad that won the Calcutta Football League last season. He also helped the under-21 side reach the final of the 2024 Reliance Foundation Development League.

A defensive midfielder, Gurnaj made his international debut with the under-17 side under coach Bibiano Fernandes and was a member of the team that won the SAFF U-19 Championship last month.

He will join the reserve squad, playing in the Calcutta Football League as well as the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) U-21, one that Bagan had won last season.