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Xtra Time Web Desk: SC East Bengal on Saturday announced their first major overseas signing as they signed star Slovenian midfielder Amir Dervišević ahead of the Indian Super League (ISL) season 2021-22.

Dervišević, 29, joins the red and gold brigade from Slovenian heavyweights NK  Maribor, where he spent eight years playing 161 games for the 15-time premier league winners. He has also netted 18 goals.  

The skillful central midfielder played a key role in Maribor winning three championship titles, one Slovenian Cup crown and helped them to a place in the  group stages of the Champions League in 2014.  

“I am very happy to have signed signed with SC East Bengal. It’s a new challenge for me  and I hope to have a very good season with my new teammates and all the  technical staff. My primary target is to fight to win every match with this club with so rich in history, because I know this team has a winning mentality and and so does our  new coach,” Dervisevic said after completing formalities.  

He added, “I have heard about the derby in this part of the world. It is massive am looking forward to. I have and one that I  have been part of the biggest derby in Slovenia for so  many years. I know the sentiment and what it means to the fans.” 

Dervišević was born in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana but played all his life for  Maribor with the biggest club in his hometown, NK Olimpija Ljubljana, being arch rivals.  He started his career with Interblock, a Slovenian club in the city of  Ljubljana in 2011. He then joined Krka for one season before moving to Maribor  where during his stay, he became a darling of the fans.  

The 2018/19 season saw Dervišević get a national team call-up riding his  superlative performances for Maribor. He has been capped six times for the  Slovenian senior team.  

A playmaker with a penchant for spectacular strikes, Dervišević is not only a good  passer of the ball but also helps the team defensively with the added skill of being  a set-piece specialist.