Analyzing Mumbai City FC’s foreign signings for ISL 2026-27

The Indian Super League 2026/27 is set to begin this weekend, with this iteration being the debut of the club-led model for the top flight league. Following a shortened season last time out with uncertainty shrouded over it, this season seems to hint toward a clear vision both in the short and long term.

Mumbai City come into the new iteration of the league following a solid 2025/26 season. Despite key domestic departures in pre-season, battling injuries to foreign players, and a thin squad, the side were competing for the League Shield on the final day of the season. While other results did not go their way and the Islanders finished third, it reflected a strong, solid season for all involved. Most notably, the side’s domestic signings appeared resolute and adapted to the league by the end of the season.

The Islanders now look set to come into the 2026/27 Indian Super League season with a new face in the dugout. Petr Kratky’s contract was not renewed, and the Czech-Australian coach returned to previous club Melbourne City as an assistant coach. In his place, the club moved quickly, appointing ex-Hyderabad, Goa, and India head coach Manolo Marquez on a one-year contract. Mumbai-born assistant coach Anthony Fernandes also returned to the club after two years away.

Image credit: Mumbai City FC social media

The side also come into the season with a new-look squad. All four foreign players contracted to the side were allowed to depart, alongside a number of domestic players. Most notably, goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa, who departed for East Bengal, and club captain Lallianzuala Chhangte, who went to Mohun Bagan SG.

However, Mumbai also moved to replace them, bringing in five new foreigners, four out of which have experience in India. The club also recruited domestic talent of arguably a lower-profile, with the biggest name being current Indian international Farukh Choudhary.

Under Marquez, the younger Indian players at the club will likely be the focus, but the Spaniard will also lean on his foreign players to make an impact both on and off the pitch. With the league season only days away, let’s take a look at the club’s foreign cohort going into the 26/27 season.

Carlos Delgado

Out of Mumbai’s nine signings, Delgado is the oldest at 36 years old. Notably, though, with his predecessors in defence at Mumbai being Rostyn Griffiths, Tiri, and more recently Nuno Reis, the club has shown that experience at the back is still very much valued. The Spaniard joins the Islanders following four years at Odisha FC, for most of which he captained the side.

The veteran defender played 12 out of Odisha’s 13 games last season as the side’s only foreign player. While the Odisha side around him was not the strongest, eventually finishing eleventh on goal difference with two wins, Delgado was one of the stronger presences in the squad. Despite only one clean sheet to his name, his skill at the back, leadership, and ability to play out from the back likely made him an appealing asset to Manolo Marquez’s system.

The one major drawback to Delgado’s game remains his lack of pace. Being in the latter stages of his career, Delgado’s recovery pace is a factor that could lead to him being caught out. This can often lead to him having to make tactical fouls in quick transition moments, leading to yellow cards. His positional awareness partially compensates for this.

Strengths: Leadership, Positional awareness, Playing out from the back
Weaknesses: Lack of pace, disciplinary risk
Rating: 6.5/10

Lazar Cirkovic

Cirkovic was Mumbai’s final foreign signing, recruited from Jamshedpur FC following their shutdown. In the curtailed 2025/26 league season, the Serbian started six out of The Red Miners’ thirteen league games. Like Delgado though, he was only part of one clean sheet, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2-0 win against FC Goa.

Cirkovic joins the club following stints at two ISL sides, Chennaiyin for a season, and Jamshedpur for two. His arrival appears to be a solid, but unspectacular signing. His main strength is his versatility, capable of slotting in at centre-back, or defensive midfield. This allows him to be an option in two areas of the pitch. Further, his height also makes him an aerial threat in both boxes.

Like Delgado, Cirkovic is not the quickest player, and can struggle with keeping up with quicker attackers. However, unlike Delgado, Cirkovic is adept at reading the game and using his physicality to make up for this. As a result, he is able to defend while making fewer fouls or accumulating fewer cards.

Strengths: Aerial ability, Versatility, Defensive awareness
Weaknesses: Lack of pace, Agility, Endurance
Rating: 6.5/10

Sergio Llamas

Sergio Llamas joins the Islanders off the back of an impressive 2025/26 season for Inter Kashi. Aside from his stint at Kashi, the midfielder also has I-League experience, having played the 2024/25 season for Gokulam Kerala.

Despite being 33, Llamas is still able to contribute as a box-to-box midfielder, covering on average more than 10 kilometres per match. His strength, though, is likely on the ball. He can operate as a playmaker, and effectively control the tempo of the game. Llamas is also capable when asked to defend, making the sixth-most interceptions (17) and the third-most blocked shots (11) last season.

While Llamas still has the ability to cover distance, his top speed can occasionally lead to him being bypassed in the midfield. Paired to this, he also lacks traditional physicality and strength. However, his main strength is in his technical ability, rather than his physicality. Considering Manolo’s preference of deep-lying midfielders to control the game, Llamas could prove to be Mumbai’s most important foreign signing.

Strengths: Passing range, Set-piece taking, Work rate, Tempo control
Weaknesses: Lack of pace, Physicality
Rating: 7.5/10

Leandro Otormin

Leandro Otormin joins the Islanders as their only foreign signing without prior ISL experience. The Uruguayan joins the club following a three-month stint in Bolivia with Oriente Petrolero. This move marks the 30-year-old’s first foray into Asia, not just India.

Otormin joins the club as a wildcard option. The former Uruguay under-20 international can play across the front line. However, his best position is likely in the shadow striker role, or coming in from the left wing onto his right foot. He is capable of elaborate control on the ball, quick changes of direction, and providing an X-factor to the attack.

One aspect that could cause issues for the Uruguayan under Manolo Marquez is his lack of defensive work rate. The forward can opt not to track back, or press aggressively from the front. This could both trigger the ire of his head coach, and also affect Mumbai’s pressing structure.

Strengths: Close control, Dribbling, Versatility, Shooting from range
Weaknesses: Unproven in India, Defensive work rate
Rating: 7/10

Wilmar Jordan Gil

The man likely signed to be the Islanders’ focal point for the season. Wilmar Jordan Gil returns to India after two years in Honduras and Malaysia. The forward, despite not being the flashiest name, comes with Indian pedigree. In his three seasons in India, spent at three different clubs, he was the season’s top scorer at every team he played for.

The Colombian represents a traditional target man, with an intimidating physical presence and aerial ability. Despite not being the tallest, Gil is able to hold off defenders to make space for himself in aerial duels. He can also effectively use his physique with his back to goal, and hold up the play when needed.

Gil, unlike his predecessor Jorge Pereyra Diaz, is not the kind of player to drop deep to get involved in play. Instead, his main operation will be inside the 18-yard box, working to finish chances laid to him by the midfielders behind him, or the wide men. His mobility could also be a concern. If used according to his strengths though, his play style could mask these concerns.