Kolkata: East Bengal hits back the transfer market after confirming the signing of PIO Iran winger Omid Singh from Persian Gulf Pro League club Naft Masjed Soleyman FC for the next couple of seasons. The interesting fact about this player is that National Team Coach Igor Stimac called him to the national camp for the Intercontinental Cup. However, government rules didn't allow him to don the Indian national team's jersey as dual citizenship is not allowed in the country. The Iranian footballer whose father hails from Punjab, holds a PIO card but hasn't decided yet on surrendering his Iranian passport. To be eligible to represent India on the international stage, he needs to not only surrender his PIO card but also apply for an Indian passport. Omid began his professional career in 2012 with Gahar Zagros in the Persian Gulf Pro League before playing for a host of clubs in Iran in the first two tiers. This will be his first stint outside Iran in case the deal breaks through. Omid is known for his sheer speed and dribbling abilities and has scored 5 goals and 4 assists in 67 appearances in Iran's top flight, operating mainly on the left flank. However, he is comfortable playing on the right too.

Transfer News: East Bengal signs Omid Singh from top flight Iranian league