KOLKATA: Cleiton Silva, East Bengal’s star performer in an otherwise hugely disappointing 2022-2023 season of Indian Super League, is staying with the red-and-gold brigade.
Conforming the news, the club management said on Thursday that he has agreed to extend his contract until the end of 2023-2024 season.
“Emami East Bengal FC are pleased to announce that Brazilian forward Cleiton Silva has signed an extension with the club for the upcoming season,” it said in a statement.
Cleiton was the top scorer in the just concluded Indian Super League season league stage, netting 12 goals in 20 games. He also finished with the maximum number of man-of-the-match awards.
East Bengal under Stephen Constantine, however, finished ninth in the 11-team league, suffering a record number of 13 losses in their campaign.
“I’m happy to be here for the next season. I believe in the project. Despite the problems, we‘ve had some good moments in the league. I think we can learn and grow together in the next season. Joy East Bengal!” Cleiton was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the club.
Interestingly, the Brazilian is the first East Bengal player to score 12 or more goals in India’s top-flight league since Nigerian goal-machine Ranti Martins in the 2015-16 season of I-League.
"We are thrilled to have Cleiton Silva continue his journey with East Bengal. His contribution to the team's performance last season was invaluable, and we believe that he has much more to offer,” Emami East Bengal FC director Sandeep Agarwal said.
In another development, the East Bengal club management has decided to part ways with assistant coach Thórhallur Siggeirsson.
