FC Pune City have signed highly-rated goalkeeper Vishal Kaith ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League season from Shillong Lajong FC, Goal can confirm.
The 20-year-old custodian had been a part of the FC Pune City setup in the 2016 ISL season, where he was on loan from Shillong Lajong.
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Though the youngster did not make a single appearance for the Orange and Purple brigade last season, he earned rave reviews for his virtuoso displays under the bar for Shillong Lajong in the recently concluded I-League season which sparked interest in the 6' 2" custodian.
It was enough for Indian national team coach Stephen Constantine to call the youngster up to national team squad, though he is yet to earn a cap. Incidentally, Kaith has been called by Constantine for the Indian U23 team which will be playing in Singapore later this month.
Kaith's rise in fortunes were apparently enough to convince Pune City's Spanish coach Antonio Habas to ensure the youngster was signed up.
Indian goalkeepers have been in high demand after the ISL regulations decreed that only five foreigners will be allowed in the starting XI from the 2017 season onward.
The Pune-based team are also expected to retain a couple of players from their youth teams while Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who was not retained by Bengaluru FC, will move into the player draft as things stand.
FC Pune City CEO Gaurav Modwel refused to confirm or deny the development when Goal contacted him.
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