East Bengal Rope In India Star Jyoti Chouhan Ahead of AFC Women’s Champions League

Bengal, Nov 6 : East Bengal have strengthened their attacking options by signing India international Jyoti Chouhan, the club confirmed on Wednesday. The 25 year old forward joins the Kolkata giants ahead of their AFC Women’s Champions League group stage campaign and the upcoming Indian Women’s League (IWL) season, aiming to defend their title.

Jyoti, who made history as the first Indian footballer to score a hat-trick for a European club  Dinamo Zagreb against ZNK Agram in 2023  has signed a contract with East Bengal until the end of the 2025–26 season. She will wear the number 99 jersey for the Red and Golds.

“Joining East Bengal is a dream come true. We have a long calendar ahead, and I am eager to contribute in the AFC Women’s Champions League and the IWL title defence,” Jyoti said. She added that reuniting with coach Anthony and some former teammates adds to her excitement, and she is committed to making the club’s supporters proud.

Hailing from Sardarpur in Madhya Pradesh, Jyoti’s rise in football is a story of perseverance and determination. She started her career representing Madhya Pradesh in the National Championships before playing for Kenkre FC, where her goal-scoring form earned recognition in the Mumbai Women’s League.

Her big break came at Gokulam Kerala FC, helping them win the IWL title in the 2021–22 season and earning Best Player honors in the Kerala Women’s League. Jyoti then moved abroad to Dinamo Zagreb, where she spent two successful seasons, winning the Croatian Women’s Football Cup in 2023–24 and finishing as runners-up in 2022–23.

On the international stage, Jyoti has represented India seven times, scoring her first goal in a 5-2 win over Pakistan at the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship. Her signing is expected to add experience, skill, and firepower to East Bengal’s squad as they aim for domestic and continental glory.