East Bengal FC has made some smart moves in the transfer market ahead of the 2023–24 season. They have managed to have experienced Spanish tactician Carles Cuadrat at the helm. East Bengal has signed Spanish midfielder Borja Herrera from Hyderabad FC on a free transfer for the upcoming season.
Player Profile: Borja Herrera:
Borja Herrera started his youth career with Spanish clubs Las Palmas and the Huracan U19 team. Borja started his professional career with CF Union Viera in the Spanish third division in 2012. Later in January 2014, Herrera joined CD Tudelano in Segunda Division B.
Later in July 2014, Borja Herrera joined his youth club, UD Las Palmas. He also helped their reserves get promoted to the third division. He spent four years at his childhood club and also played for their senior team.
Borja Herrera made his LaLiga debut with UD Las Palmas against CD Leganes on September 24, 2017. But soon he was loaned out to Segunda Division side Real Valladolid. He played a total of five matches for Real Valladolid.
In 2018, Borja signed a three-year contract with CF Reus Deportiu and played 18 matches for them. But in 2019, Herrera left the club due to the club’s poor financial condition. Soon, he joined another LaLiga 2 team, Albacete Balompie, and played nine matches for them.
Borja also played four matches for Israeli Premier League side Maccabi Netanya in the 2019–20 season. Before coming to India, he played for other Spanish clubs like FC Andorra, Unionistas CF, and UD Tamaraceite. Herrera has 32 LaLiga 2 appearances in which he scored a goal and provided four assists.
Performance in Hero ISL:
The Spanish attacking midfielder moved to India in 2022 and signed for defending champions Hyderabad FC. In the 2022–23 season, Borja played a total of 30 matches for the Nizams, in which he scored five goals and provided nine assists. Coach Manolo Marquez mostly used him at the center of the park, in the role of central defensive midfielder or attacking midfielder.
East Bengal signs Borja Herrera on a one-year deal:
After his one-year stint with Hyderabad FC, Borja Herrera switched to Kolkata-based East Bengal FC. Borja brings a Spanish flavour to his style of play with short passing, quick one-twos, and dominating possession, which is totally fitting with Carles Cuadrat’s brand of football. Borja, with his smart vision, good positioning, excellent shooting technique, and tiki-taka football, is going to be very important for East Bengal FC in the upcoming season.
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