Mumbai-Born Malayali Yohaan Benjamin Signs Two-Year Deal With Portuguese Club Guarda FC

Lisbon: Mumbai-born footballer Yohaan Benjamin, who traces his roots to Keralam, has agreed to a two-year contract with Guarda FC, a club in Portugal's fourth division. The 19-year-old winger is set to join the team once his visa formalities are finalised.

Announcing the signing on social media, Guarda FC expressed enthusiasm at bringing him on board, saying they were "very happy and honoured" to have his talent and wished him well as he embarks on this new phase of his career.

Yohaan was previously part of the Slovenian club NK Bravo, becoming part of their U-19 squad. He went on to create history as the first Indian footballer to appear in a UEFA Youth League match, starting for NK Bravo against Portuguese giants FC Porto.

His path into European football began in India, where he trained at a Barcelona-affiliated academy in Bengaluru during his formative years.

Yohaan's father Gautam is a Malayali who grew up in Bengaluru. Though born in Mumbai and not a Malayalam speaker himself, Yohaan has spent considerable time in Keralam over the years, particularly during holidays spent in Kochi and Kozhikode.