Sandesh
Jhingan became the latest Indian footballer to sign for a European club, completing his transfer from ATK Mohun Bagan to Croatia’s top-tier side HNK Sibenik. The 28-year-old central defender will be the first Indian to
play in the Croatian top-division league Prva HNL.

“I think I
am at a stage of my career where I really want to test myself in the
highest-level possible and I think this is the perfect platform for me. As I
have said, it has been my desire to play in Europe and I have taken up this
challenge upon myself,” PTI quoted the Chandigarh-born defender as saying.

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Jhingan is only
the second Indian who will play in a top-flight European league, after goalkeeper
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu signed for Norwegian club Stabaek in 2014.

Player Bio:

Born on
July 23, 1993 in Chandigarh, started his youth career at St. Stephen’s Academy
in the city and got his first big break in India’s erstwhile top-division I-League
with United Sikkim.

He first
broke into prominence as a 21-year-old with Kerala Blasters in the inaugural
edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) in 2014, as he was adjudged the
Emerging Player of the League.

He helped
the team reach the final of the inaugural edition, where the Blasters were
defeated by Atletico de Kolkata.

His
performances earned him his first national team call-up in 2015, as he made his
debut against Nepal in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.

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Jhingan
spent the next few seasons on loan at I-League clubs like Sporting Goa, DSK Shivajians,
before featuring prominently at right back for the Blasters in the 2017
seasons. He helped the franchise reach yet another final, where they ended as
runners up once again to Atletico de Kolkata.

Jhingan won
his first piece of top-tier silverware at loan to Bengaluru FC in 2017, as they
won the 2016-17 Federation Cup.

In 2017, he
was retained by the Blasters and was announced as captain for the upcoming season.
He continued as captain in the 2018-19 season before being ruled out of the
2019-20 season with an ACL injury.

He signed a
five-year deal with ATK Mohun Bagan in September, 2020, and helped the team
keep 10 clean sheets and secure qualification to the AFC Cup 2022 with a
second-placed finish in the league.

He was
named the AIFF Men’s Player of the Year for the 2020-21 season.

Jhingan has
made 40 appearances for the Indian national team, in which he has scored four
goals.