After Moroccan forward Hamid Ahdad was shown the door, East Bengal FC have added another overseas name to their release list. The red-and-yellow brigade is parting ways with Japanese striker Hiroshi Ibusuki, ending his short and disappointing spell at the club.
Poor returns force the decision
Ibusuki failed to score a single goal in the red-and-yellow jersey, despite getting multiple opportunities. His inability to make an impact has raised serious questions among supporters, especially after East Bengal released Dimitrios Diamantakos to bring the Japanese forward in. Expectations were high, but performances never matched the hype.
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With the Indian Super League set to begin on February 14, East Bengal have decided not to wait any longer. The club has mutually agreed with Ibusuki to terminate his contract even before the league kicks off, underlining the urgency to fix their attacking problems.
Search for a new striker underway
Although two foreign players are being released, East Bengal are actively working to bring in replacements. Club officials are keen to sign a new striker who can deliver goals consistently. Intense speculation is already doing the rounds about who the incoming foreigners might be, as the management looks to strengthen the squad ahead of the ISL.
Comparisons with past Japanese stars
Ibusuki joined East Bengal from Australia’s A-League side Western United, where he scored an impressive 120 goals. He also carried experience from top leagues across different continents. However, none of that translated into success in Kolkata, making his stint one of the biggest letdowns of the season.
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Supporters inevitably compared Ibusuki with former Japanese players like Ryuji Sueoka and Katsumi Yusa, both of whom left a lasting mark at the club. Ibusuki, however, failed to reach anywhere near their level and now exits before the season concludes.
Despite playing attractive football, East Bengal ended the season empty-handed after losing two finals—the IFA Shield and the Super Cup—both decided in tiebreakers. A recurring lack of goals proved costly. Determined to avoid a repeat, the Spanish coach and club management are now pushing hard to bring in new foreign firepower to finally solve their goal-scoring woes.
