The I-League 2024-25 is turning out to be the most competitive season ever with three or more teams in the hunt for the title and tight at the bottom with at least five sides wrestling to avoid relegation. As a case, the winter window has been busy for most of the teams looking to revamp their squad for a strong finish in the second half of the campaign. Except for surprise leaders Namdhari FC and lowly Shillong Lajong, everybody has done business hoping that the signings will stand out for them. Understandably, most of these transfers in this January window have been loan deals, acquired from ISL teams, for talents that require gametime to show their potential. There have also been some notable foreign signings that reflect each club's ambitions.
Here we list all the I-League 2024-25 transfers completed in the winter window:
Aizawl FC
IN: Laldanmawia (on loan)
Aizawl FC are facing a crisis this season. They remain just a point above the relegation zone, managing just two wins in 10 games and conceding a league-high 23 goals in that period. The mountainous club is struggling defensively this season so seeking reinforcement at the back is justified. The club has decided to again loan Laldanmawia from the ISL outfit Hyderabad FC on loan for the second time hoping that he will use his previous experience to pull them out of the dire situation. Still only 20, the youngster can play across the backline although he is a left-back primarily. The Mizoram-born defender continues to get less play time at his parent club so another loan spell seems suitable for him to keep displaying his talent.
Churchill Brothers
IN: Gnoheré Krizo
OUT: Juan Mera, Jenish Singh
Although Churchill Brothers are a two-time I-league winner, it is a surprise to see them among the top two teams in the competition’s table in the 2024-25 season. The Goan heavyweights were not among the favourites this season and spent as a mid-table club since their golden period. They came close to winning the league title in 2021 but this time the incentive is not only to be the kings of the competition again but also to seal promotion to the ISL. So, Churchill Brothers find themselves in a dream position and to fulfil their objective, they have made a promising addition to their squad. Gnoheré Krizo rejoins the team for his second stint at the club after failing to impress for them in the first term.
However, Krizo has been a massive hit for fellow I-League club Real Kashmir scoring 20 goals in 47 appearances over two spells, especially last season when the Ivory Coast striker scored 12 goals and delivered four assists in 20 games. He will want to prove a statement again in the league for the club that introduced him to the competition. Krizo’s signing has prompted the club to release Juan Mera who scarcely got minutes since joining last summer.
Delhi FC
IN: Gursimrat Singh Gill (on loan), Danilo Quipapá, Junior Onguene
OUT:
Delhi FC is in the same situation as Aizawl FC, lingering just above the relegation zone in this highly competitive season. As a case, the side was busy during the winter window making necessary additions to the squad. The focus has been on defence to go for a strong foreign contingent in the back four alongside an Indian player. The club snapped up East Bengal outcast Gursimrat Singh on loan but the foreign signing of Danilo Quipapá will draw attention. The 30-year-old Brazilian centre-back has prior experience playing in the I-League, having done so with now ISL side Punjab FC while also plying his trade in the Bangladesh Premier League. He spent the last three seasons in that league for three different clubs, playing an integral part in each. Quipapá’s signing is expected to boost the back four for the team that only gained promotion to the I-League in 2023.
However, the highlight signing for Delhi FC has been 27-year-old Cameroon international Junior Onguene. The defender’s profile is comprehensive. He started at Sochaux in France but then moved to Bundesliga club VFB Stuttgart. Onguene also played for another German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt after several stints with Austrian giants FC Salzburg where he won the top-flight five consecutive times. He also spent time with Genoa in Italy and his last action before joining the I-League was for Swiss club Servette. The truckload of experience playing in various European leagues and for his country on the international stage is the profile Delhi FC demanded to initiate their revival. Onguene will join Quipapá to create the foreign centre-back duo for the club.
Dempo SC
IN: Lukman Abegunrin
OUT: Matija Babovic
Dempo SC's return to the I-League has been uninspiring as they have tangled themselves in a relegation battle. Samir Naik’s team also faced an unwanted problem when summer signing Matija Babovic joined Inter Kashi in this window, cutting his spell short. To replace the forward, the team moved for the Nigerian striker Lukman Abegunrin who had a spell in the league before with Real Kashmir in the 2021-22 season. The 30-year-old has been a journeyman not spending more than a year for the clubs he signed for although he has showered goals wherever he went. Abegunrin scored 11 times in 18 games in his previous journey in the league, a return of the same will instil confidence into the team. Dempo SC is also likely to benefit from his versatility of playing as a winger or a second striker.
Gokulam Kerala FC
IN: Saurav Mandal (on loan), Sinisa Stanisavic, Wander Luiz
OUT:
Gokulam Kerala FC remain in the hunt for the top spot although they need other teams to fall off. The Malabarians have made some important signings to boost their chances, one of which is Sinisa Stanisavic who scored a hattrick in his fourth game to give his new side the first home victory of the season. The Montenegrin already seems like a jackpot signing using his experience of playing in various clubs in his homeland and having stints in Sweden and Italy. He scored over 20 goals for his past two clubs FK Ibar and FK Mladost before joining Gokulam making him an ideal player to lead the attack. Another striker Wander Luiz joins him with a decent scoring record playing in the Vietnamese and Indonesian leagues. Midfielder Saurav Mandal is an Indian arrival the team secured on loan from fellow Kerala club from ISL, Kerala Blasters.
Inter Kashi
IN: Matija Babovic, Sk Sahil, Bryce Miranda (on loan)
OUT:
Inter Kashi also remains in contention to win the I-League in this multiple-horse race, with manager Antonio Habas hoping to add another silverware to his CV. The corporate club, which only entered the league last season, made some interesting deals in the window to strengthen its squad. Former Gokulam Kerala FC forward Matija Babovic joined the Uttar Pradesh-based club after initially signing for Dempo last summer. The Serbian recorded five goals in 12 league matches for the Malabarians and found the net twice this season. The player opened his account in just the second appearance for Kashi, showing his instant adaptability and scoring prowess. Babovic seems to be the recruit Habas’s team was looking for to claim their prize.
The team also purchased two Indian talents in this window: Sk Sahil from promoted side SC Bengaluru and Bryce Miranda loaned from ISL club Kerala Blasters for the remainder of the season. The former I-League winner with Mohun Bagan, Sahil, will want to bring his expertise to the midfield alongside Finnish star Joni Kauko. However, Miranda will be the focus of attention as he returns to the league after shining for Churchill Brothers. The 25-year-old's pace and crossing ability from the left flank will be valuable in attack. The winger already scored in his first start for the club hoping to create a sizeable impact like last time.
Rajasthan United
IN: Monirul Molla (on loan), Bektur Amangeldiev, Samuel Kynshi (on loan), Givson Singh
OUT: Mahitosh Roy
Rajasthan United’s summer signings were promising but they haven’t paid it on the field. They sit in a disappointing sixth spot, four points away from their lofty ambition of winning the league this season. Hence, the club has tried to revamp the squad in the January window stressing more on young Indian players. The exciting talent Monirul Molla joins on loan from Bengaluru FC with Samuel Kynshi, who was part of the Asian Games last year, in the same way from Punjab FC. Givson Singh arrives from another ISL club Odisha FC after barely featuring for the teams he played in his career. The team hopes these signings will deliver after getting an appropriate stage to showcase their talent. The only foreign arrival has been of Bektur Amangeldiev from Kyrgyz club Dordoi. The 26-year-old is a part of the Kyrgyzstan national team currently competing at the 2026 World Cup AFC qualifiers, making him a star signing. The only departure from Rajasthan United is Mahitosh Roy who returns to his homeland Kolkata to play for Mohammedan SC.
Real Kashmir
IN: Faisal Ali, Paulo Cézar, Pardeep Singh, Muhammad Hammad
SC Bengaluru
IN: Yuya Kuriyama, Clarence Fernandes (on loan)
OUT: Sk Sahil
Sreenidi Deccan
IN: Hardik Bhatt (on loan)
