Indian Super League (ISL) club Chennaiyin FC announced a two-year contract extension for young forward Rahim Ali. The 21-year-old from Bengal is looking forward to building on a breakaway 2020-21 ISL season, having impressed with a string of solid performances that also included two well-taken goals.
“I am really excited to continue my journey and learning with Chennaiyin FC. I feel really good, having extended my stay at the club. I am looking forward to getting back on the pitch in CFC colours.”
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀. 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲. 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗺. 💙
It's time for more of Rahim's ranagalam ⏳#AllInForChennaiyin #RahimExtends pic.twitter.com/oZJWYIJmEL
— Chennaiyin FC 🏆🏆 (@ChennaiyinFC) June 18, 2021
The youngster is the product of the AIFF’s Elite Academy. Rahim joined Chennaiyin FC from their developmental side Indian Arrows in 2018. He also featured in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The India youth international spent the following season on loan back at Indian Arrows, before making a debut for Chennaiyin FC during the memorable 2019-20 campaign that saw the club reach a third ISL final in six years.
Chennaiyin FC finished eighth with just 20 points in 20 matches in the ISL last season. The Chennai-based team started their ISL 2020-21 campaign under new coach Csaba Laszlo with a win as they defeated Jamshedpur FC 2-1 in their opening game. However, the team couldn’t maintain momentum for the rest of the campaign.
The two times ISL champions will be looking to bolster their squad for the upcoming season of the ISL. Both attack and defense need massive improvement as they only scored seventeen and conceded 23 last season. The ISL club is yet to announce the new head coach of the team. They will be looking to return to the top half of the table after facing disappointment in recent years. Earlier in April, Chennaiyin FC had also secured the future Edwin Sydney Vanspaul to get a major boost for next season. The 2021/22 season will be held in Goa like last year and take place during November.