The 2023–24 season was the 10th season in the history of Mumbai City Football Club and the club's 7th consecutive season in the top flight of Indian football. In addition to the domestic league, Mumbai City will compete in this season's editions of the Durand Cup, Super Cup and AFC Champions League. The season covers the period from 1 August 2023 to 31 May 2024.
Pre-season overview May On 17 May, the Islanders announced that they have extended the contract of the Australian centre-back Rostyn Griffiths till the end of the 2023–24 season.
On 18 May, the Islanders announced that they have been granted ICLS Premier 1 license by the All India Football Federation — the governing body of association football in India.
On 23 May, the Islanders announced the contract extension of Spanish central midfielder Alberto Noguera till the end of the 2023–24 season.
On 26 May, the Islanders announced the contract extension of Argentine striker Jorge Pereyra Díaz till the end of the 2023–24 season.
On 28 May, the Islanders announced the departure of their Indian left-back Mandar Rao Dessai after spending three years at the club.
On 29 May, the Islanders announced the departure of their club captain, Senegalese centre-back Mourtada Fall after three years with the club.
On 30 May, the Islanders announced the departure of their Moroccan defensive midfielder Ahmed Jahouh after spending three years at the club.
On 31 May, the Islanders announced the departures of Hardik Bhatt (on loan), Gursimrat Singh Gill and Raynier Fernandes from the club as their contracts ended on the same day.
June On 1 June, the Islanders welcomed back Spaniard Juanma Cruz as their new first-team goalkeeping coach till the end of the 2023–24 season.
On 3 June, the Islanders announced the contract extension of Indian right-back Rahul Bheke till the end of the 2023–24 season.
On 7 June, the Islanders announced the contract extension of Indian right winger Vikram Partap Singh till 2026 on a three-year contract.
On 11 June, the Islanders announced that Rowllin Borges has been loaned out to FC Goa till the end of the 2023–24 season.
On 12 June, the Islanders announced the contract extension of Indian centre-back Mehtab Singh till 2026 on a three-year contract.
On 16 June, the Islanders announced the contract extension of Indian striker Ayush Chhikara till 2026 on a three-year contract.
On 18 June, the Islanders announced the departure of Naorem Tondomba Singh to Delhi FC on a season-long loan deal.
On 19 June, the Islanders announced the signing of Indian left-back Akash Mishra from Hyderabad FC for an undisclosed transfer fee till 2028 on a five-year deal.
On 24 June, the Islanders announced the permanent signing of Vinit Rai from Odisha FC following his loan spell till the end of the 2023–24 season.
On 27 June, the Islanders announced that Amey Ranawade has been loaned out to Odisha FC till the end of the 2023–24 season.
On 28 June, the Islanders announced the contract extension of Indian goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa till 2026 on a three-year contract.
July On 6 July, the Islanders announced the signing of the Spanish centre-back Tiri till the end of the 2023–24 season.
On 8 July, the Islanders announced the signings of centre-back Nathan Rodrigues and midfielder Franklin Nazareth from RFYC. The two 19 year-olds joined Mumbai City till 2027 on a four-year deal.
On 10 July, the Islanders announced the departure Indian left-back Vignesh Dakshinamurthy to Hyderabad FC for an undisclosed fee after spending five years at the club.
On 12 July, the Islanders announced the signing of Dutch defensive midfielder Yoell van Nieff until 2025.
On 13 July, the Islanders announced the departure of left-back Naocha Singh to Kerala Blasters on a season-long loan deal.
On 14 July, Mumbai City unveiled the club's new crest ahead of the 2023–24 season, a landmark 10th season of the club's history. The new Puma 2023–24 home kit was also revealed – the first kit in the Islanders new era to feature the new crest.
On 16 July, the Islanders announced that they would travel to Thailand on a pre-season tour in preparation for the Durand Cup campaign in August.
On 17 July, the Islanders were drawn in Group B for the 132nd edition of the Durand Cup, alongside Indian Navy, Jamshedpur FC and Mohammedan SC.
On 22 July, the Islanders announced the signing of Indian attacking midfielder Jayesh Rane on a season-long loan from Bengaluru FC.
On 23 July, the Durand Cup announced the fixtures of the Islanders and the participating clubs.
On 30 July, the Islanders played their first tour pre-season friendly match against Thai League 1 side PT Prachuap, which they won 3–0.
Season Overview August
On 4 August, the Islanders announced a 29-member squad for the 2023 Durand Cup.
On 5 August, the Islanders played their first group stage match in the Durand Cup against I-League side Mohammedan SC, which ended in a 1–3 win.
On 8 August, the Islanders played their second group stage match in the Durand Cup against Jamshedpur FC, which they won 0–5.
On 14 August, the Islanders announced the departure of striker Mustafa Shaikh to Sporting Club Bengaluru on a season-long loan deal.
On 14 August, the Islanders announced the departure of Indian midfielder, Mohammed Asif Khan, to Inter Kashi for an undisclosed fee after spending five years at the club from the age of 14.
On 19 August, the Islanders played their third group stage match in the Durand Cup against Indian Navy FT, which they won 4–0, making it three wins out of three in Group B and qualifying for the quarter-finals.
On 22 August, the Islanders were drawn against Mohun Bagan SG in the quarter-finals of the Durand Cup. The match is scheduled to play on 27 August.
On 22 August, the Islanders announced that they will be playing their home games in the AFC Champions League at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, due to the present infrastructural setup at the Mumbai Football Arena which makes the venue ineligible to host games.
First team First-team coaching staff Position Name Nationality Year appointed Last club/team References Manager Petr Kratky 2023 Melbourne City (as assistant coach) Assistant Coaches Hiroshi Miyazawa 2021 Auckland United Anthony Fernandes 2018 Goalkeeping Coach Juanma Cruz 2023 Sichuan Jiuniu (as goalkeeping coach)
First-team squad Notes: Players and squad numbers last updated on 8 September 2023. Appearances and goals last updated on 19 August 2023, including all competitions for senior teams. Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Player* – Player who joined the club permanently or on loan during the season. Player† – Player who departed the club permanently or on loan during the season.
Player Position(s)(Footedness) Date of birth (age) Signed Transfer fee Goals In From Goalkeepers 1 Phurba Lachenpa GK (R) 2020 Real Kashmir Free transfer 43 0 13 Mohammad Nawaz GK (R) 2021 Goa Free transfer 21 0 22 Bhaskar Roy GK (R) 2022 Rajasthan United Free transfer 0 0 32 Ahan Prakash GK (R) 2023 Indian Arrows Free transfer 0 0 Defenders 2 Rahul Bheke (captain) RB / CB (R) 2021 Bengaluru Free transfer 50 3 3 Valpuia CB / LB (L) 2019 Aizawl Free transfer 6 0 4 Tiri* CB (L) 2023 Mohun Bagan SG Free transfer 0 0 5 Mehtab Singh CB (R) 2020 East Bengal Free transfer 64 5 17 Sanjeev Stalin LB (L) 2022 Kerala Blasters Free transfer 20 0 18 Rostyn Griffiths CB (R) 2022 Melbourne City Free transfer 25 2 27 Nathan Rodrigues* CB (L) 2023 RFYC Free transfer 1 1 31 Akash Mishra* LB (L) 2023 Hyderabad Undisclosed 1 0 44 Halen Nongtdu CB (R) 2022 Indian Arrows Free transfer 3 0 Midfielders 8 Yoell van Nieff* DM / CB (L) 2023 Puskas AFC Free transfer 3 1 10 Alberto Noguera AM / CM (R) 2022 Goa Free transfer 31 6 16 Vinit Rai* DM / CM / LB (R) 2022 Odisha Free transfer 35 2 20 Jayesh Rane* CM / AM (R) 2023 Bengaluru Loan transfer 0 0 45 Lalengmawia Ralte (Apuia) CM / DM (R) 2021 NorthEast United ₹20m 53 5 60 Franklin Nazareth* DM (R) 2023 RFYC Free transfer 1 0 77 Gyamar Nikum RM / CM (R/L) 2023 Rajasthan United ₹6m 1 0 Attackers 6 Vikram Pratap Singh RW (R) 2020 Indian Arrows ₹5m 63 9 7 Lallianzuala Chhangte RW (L) 2022 Chennaiyin Free transfer 48 19 11 Gurkirat Singh ST / LW (L) 2021 Indian Arrows Free transfer 30 1 21 Seilenthang Lotjem* LW (R) 2023 Sudeva Delhi Free transfer 0 0 23 Nasser El Khayati* LW (R) 2023 Chennaiyin Free transfer 0 0 24 Greg Stewart CF / AM (L) 2022 Jamshedpur Free transfer 31 15 28 Ayush Chhikara ST (R) 2022 Mumbai City Academy N/A 10 1 29 Bipin Singh LW (R) 2018 ATK Free transfer 107 22 30 Jorge Pereyra Díaz ST (R) 2022 Platense Free transfer 28 16 Out on loan 4 Amey Ranawade† RB (R) 2020 Bengaluru United Free transfer 40 0 14 Rowllin Borges† DM / CM (R) 2019 NorthEast United Free transfer 60 4 18 Naocha Singh† LB / CB (L) 2021 Gokulam Kerala Free transfer 0 0 28 Naorem Tondomba Singh† DM / CM (R) 2020 East Bengal Free transfer 0 0
Squad number changes Notes: Players and squad numbers last updated on 31 August 2023. The list is sorted by new squad number. Player* – Player who joined Mumbai City permanently or on loan during the season. Player† – Player who departed Mumbai City permanently or on loan during the season.
Player Previous player to wear number Notes Valpuia DF 31 3 Tondonba Singh† Mishra took the number 31 shirt Tiri* DF — 4 Amey Ranawade† Ranawade departed the club on loan Yoell van Nieff* MF — 8 Alberto Noguera Noguera took the number 10 shirt Alberto Noguera MF 8 10 Ahmed Jahouh† Jahouh departed the club Gurkirat Singh FW 9 11 Raynier Fernandes† Fernandes departed the club Sanjeev Stalin DF 15 17 Mandar Rao Dessai† Dessai departed the club Jayesh Rane* MF — 20 Jackichand Singh† — Nathan Rodrigues* DF — 27 Farukh Choudhary† — Akash Mishra* DF — 31 Valpuia Valpuia took the number 3 shirt Franklin Nazareth* MF — 60 — — Seilenthang Lotjem* FW — 21 Ravi Kumar† —
New contracts and transfers New contracts Date Player 17 May 2023 18 DF Rostyn Griffiths 23 May 2023 10 MF Alberto Noguera 26 May 2023 30 FW Jorge Pereyra Díaz 3 June 2023 2 DF Rahul Bheke 7 June 2023 6 FW Vikram Pratap Singh 12 June 2023 5 DF Mehtab Singh 16 June 2023 28 FW Ayush Chhikara 28 June 2023 1 GK Phurba Lachenpa
Transfers in Date Player Transferred from Fee 19 June 2023 31 DF Akash Mishra Hyderabad (Indian Super League) Undisclosed 24 June 2023 16 MF Vinit Rai Odisha (Indian Super League) Free transfer 6 July 2023 4 DF Tiri Mohun Bagan SG (Indian Super League) Free transfer 8 July 2023 27 DF Nathan Rodrigues RFYC (Youth leagues) Free transfer 8 July 2023 60 MF Franklin Nazareth RFYC (Youth leagues) Free transfer 12 July 2023 8 MF Yoell van Nieff Puskas AFC (NB I) Free transfer 22 July 2023 20 MF Jayesh Rane Bengaluru (Indian Super League) Loan transfer 31 August 2023 21 FW Seilenthang Lotjem Sudeva Delhi (I-League) Free transfer 8 September 2023 FW Nasser El Khayati Chennaiyin (Indian Super League) Free transfer
Transfers out Date Player Transferred to Fee 28 May 2023 17 DF Mandar Rao Dessai East Bengal (Indian Super League) Free transfer 29 May 2023 25 DF Mourtada Fall Odisha (Indian Super League) Free transfer 30 May 2023 10 MF Ahmed Jahouh Odisha (Indian Super League) Free transfer 31 May 2023 93 DF Hardik Bhatt Rajasthan United (I-League) End of loan 31 May 2023 33 DF Gursimrat Singh Gill East Bengal (Indian Super League) Free transfer 31 May 2023 11 MF Raynier Fernandes Goa (Indian Super League) Free transfer 10 July 2023 23 DF Vignesh Dakshinamurthy Hyderabad (Indian Super League) Undisclosed 14 August 2023 36 MF Mohammed Asif Khan Inter Kashi (I-League) Undisclosed
Loans out