Chennaiyin FC will be desperate for a better showing in the 2025-26 season after finishing 11th in the bottom three of the table last time and exiting early in the Super Cup, failing to win a single game with an all-Indian squad. With some smart acquisitions and appointing former international Clifford Miranda, who stirred heads by winning the Super Cup with Odisha FC and working as assistant for successful Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City teams in the past couple of seasons, they look far more promising than before. The two-time ISL Cup winners hope to reach the heights again and this season could act as a baby step towards returning to former glory.
Chennaiyin FC ISL 2025-26 Signings
IN: Alberto Noguera, Mohammed Ali Bemmamer, Imran Khan, John Manuel Pereira, Raj Basfore, Kingslee Fernandes, Eduardo Kau, Inigo Martin
OUT: Kiyan Nassiri, Lukas Brambilla, Wilmar Jordan Gil, Vincy Barretto, Prateek Kumar Singh, Connor Shields, Ryan Edwards, Edwin Sydney Vanspaul, Praful Kumar YV, Thanglalsoun Gangte, Lalpekhlua
Once confirmation of the ISL restarting in February 2026 was given in early January, Chennaiyin FC dove into the transfer market to strengthen the squad. Like most other teams, their planning was severely affected by the ISL delay, forcing them to play with an all Indian squad in the Super Cup initially. However, things changed in the winter window as they began to acquire more foreigners and not just anyone, but ISL-proven ones. The high-profile move was to bring in one of the league’s elite playmakers, Alberto Noguera, back to India after he left Bengaluru FC for his home nation, Spain, last summer. The midfield was significantly boosted with the arrival of Mohammed Ali Bemmamer, who anchored the midfield in the most successful period for NorthEast United. The entirely new foreign faces included Eduardo Kau, a left-footed defender and an attacking midfielder, in the 26-year-old Inigo Martin. Jamshedpur FC’s elegant winger Imran Khan and defensive talent from Mohun Bagan, Raj Basfore, also bring energy and experience to the squad. Chennaiyin have completed the foreign quota with six foreign players available.
Chennaiyin have offloaded several players after finishing a disappointing 11th in the previous campaign, including their prime creator, Connor Shields. The Scotsman produced the most assists in the league last term with eight and was involved in 14 goals over two seasons for the Marina Machans. Reliable centre-back Ryan Edwards also became a free agent, whereas the 25-year-old tricky winger Vincy Barretto joined Jamshedpur FC. Lukas Brambilla and Wilmar Jordan Gil are the other foreign departures, whereas Kiyan Nassiri rejoined Mohun Bagan after an unsuccessful spell at the club. Edwin Vanspaul also ended his second stint with the side.
Chennaiyin FC ISL 2025-26 Squad
Goalkeepers: Mohammad Nawaz, Samik Mitra, Devansh Dabas
Defenders: PC Laldinpuia, Elsinho (foreigner), Mandar Rao Desai, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, Ankit Mukherjee, Pritam Kotal, Laldinliana Renthlei, SK Rajjak Ali, John Manuel Pereira, Raj Basfore, Eduardo Kau (foreigner), Jahangir Ahmad
Midfielders: Jiteshwor Singh, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Maheson Singh, Jitendra Singh, Alberto Noguera (foreigner), Mohammed Ali Bemammer (foreigner), Nitish Kumar
Forwards: Farukh Choudhary, Gurkirat Singh, Iñigo Martin (foreigner), Daniel Chima (foreigner), Irfan Yadwad, Imran Khan, Vivek S, Prakadeshwaran
Head Coach: Clifford Miranda
How will Chennaiyin FC lineup for the ISL 2025-26 season?
Chennaiyin FC have organised a well-stacked squad with the necessary depth, giving a wealth of options for Clifford Miranda to choose from. The former national team player has mainly deployed his teaṁ into two formations, a compact 4-4-2 and a 3-4-3 and they have the required personnel and the quality to use both in the most effective way. Additional options at the back mean it is a nice headache for the manager to decide whether he uses the left-footed Eduardo Kau with preferred Indian defender Laldinpuia at the back for a rare left-footed-right-footed centre-back partnership or stick with Elsinho for his experience and durability. There are a lot of full-back or wing-back options to choose from, whether it is the defensively assured Pritam Kotal and Mandar Rao or the more aggressive Ankit Mukherjee and Vigesh Dakshinamurthy. Midfield is also the sector that carries impressive depth, but the foreign pair of Noguera and Bemmamer looks ideal for balance. One can be sacrificed to use a foreigner, supposedly Inigo Martin, in the attack, either pairing with Daniel Chima or replacing him upfront.
Chennaiyin FC ISL schedule for the 2025-26 season
February 2026
Thursday, 19 February 2026
Mumbai City vs Chennaiyin FC - Mumbai Football Arena, Andheri (19:30)
Monday, 23 February 2026
Mohun Bagan vs Chennaiyin FC - Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata (19:30)
Chennaiyin FC don’t play at home until the end of March, so they have to play their first four games of the 2025/26 season on the road. Their season opener against Mumbai City on 19 February 2026 is at Andheri, where they have lost every time since their last victory all the way back in 2015 in the second edition of the league. If that is not a tough outing, the Marina Machans will then face back-to-back ISL Shield holders Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Salt Lake Stadium just four days later.
March 2026
Sunday, 1 March 2026
Odisha FC vs Chennaiyin FC - TBD (17:00)
Saturday, 7 March 2026
Kerala Blasters vs Chennaiyin FC - Kaloor Stadium, Kochi (19:30)
Sunday, 22 March 2026
Chennaiyin FC vs Goa - Marina Arena, Chennai (17:00)
After a crunching beginning, Clifford Miranda’s side will have a slightly less exhausting fixture against a depleted Odisha FC at the start of March, but then facing Kerala Blasters at the Kaloor Stadium for the Southern derby and taking on FC Goa in their first home game of the season on the 22nd of the month shows the intensity of their schedule. In a truncated season with only 13 games to play, the manner in which they begin will define their season, considering their tough start.
April 2026
Tuesday, 7 April 2026
Chennaiyin FC vs Inter Kashi - Marina Arena, Chennai (19:30)
Saturday, 11 April 2026
Chennaiyin FC vs East Bengal - Marina Arena, Chennai (17:00)
Friday, 17 April 2026
Chennaiyin FC vs SC Delhi - Marina Arena, Chennai (17:00)
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
Chennaiyin FC vs Mohammedan - Marina Arena, Chennai (19:30)
Saturday, 25 April 2026
Jamshedpur FC vs Chennaiyin FC - The Furnace, Jamshedpur (19:30)
The penultimate month of the season could be the most point-gaining period, as Chennaiyin FC will play four straight home games in April and five since their first at Marina Arena this season.
However, they would be tough opponents to face with the promoted side, Inter Kashi, managed by Antonio Lopez Habas, two Kolkata giants, East Bengal and Mohammedan, alongside Sporting Club Delhi, the visitors. The only away game in the month is against Jamshedpur FC at the Furnace.
May 2026
Wednesday, 6 May 2026
Punjab FC vs Chennaiyin FC - Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi (19:30)
Sunday, 10 May 2026
NorthEast United vs Chennaiyin FC - Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati (19:30)
Tuesday, 17 May 2026
Chennaiyin FC vs Bengaluru FC - Marina Arena, Chennai (TBD)
Two of the final three games of the season will come on the road for Chennaiyin FC, with a trip to Delhi to face Punjab FC and facing NorthEast United in Guwahati. However, the final game of the 2025-26 season will be played at home against Southern rivals Bengaluru FC on 17 May 2026. Except for the Highlanders, the side failed to beat the other two in this fixture last season, making it a difficult ending to the season.
Chennaiyin FC ISL Prediction for 2025-26 season
It will be difficult to tell which Chennaiyin FC will show itself in the 2025-26 season, whether they will string together well under the watch of Clifford Miranda and his ways of playing or completely collapse. Some quality foreign additions and an immersive depth in the squad indicate they will be stable in the long run, but they have to go through one of the most difficult schedules for the season. It will be a big ask for the manager to do something spectacular like the Super Cup victory he managed with Odisha FC against all odds to reach significant heights with this side, but a top-four finish looks a real possibility.
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