I-League: East Bengal sign Enrique Esqueda

East Bengal have secured the services of Mexican striker Enrique Esqueda for the 2018-19 season, Goal can confirm.

The Kolkata side have once again reached deep into its pockets to strengthen their squad ahead of the I-League, which commences in October.

Ever since the investment from Quess Corp the previous month, East Bengal have been adding high-profile names in a bid to win a maiden I-League title.

2018 World Cupper Johnny Acosta, the Costa Rican defender is already in the city while Spanish centre-back Borja Gomez Perez is slated to arrive next month.

The signing of Esqueda signifies a mini-Hispanic revolution for East Bengal with former Real Madrid Castilla coach Alejandro Menendez set to sign on the dotted line in the coming few days.

Esqueda, who started his career in the renowned Mexican side Club America is an Under-17 World Cup winner in 2005. He also represented the El Tri at the seniormost level between 2007 and 2015.

However, he has been capped only nine times and was also a passenger in Mexico's 2015 Copa America squad. The 30-year-old was a free agent after a public fall out with Tigres UANL, a club where he was in the books for four seasons until 2017.

He passed a trial with Polish side Arka Gdyina earlier this year and signed a short-term contract but chose not to renew it further. This will be Esqueda's second stint outside his home country with the league starting in the last week of October.

East Bengal are currently playing the regional Calcutta Football League, where they share the top spot on the table with arch-rivals Mohun Bagan. Incidentally, these two teams faceoff in the 'Kolkata Derby' on Sunday with four rounds of matches to go.