Gokulam Kerala FC have made a statement signing ahead of the decisive phase of the I-League season by bringing in Afghanistan international defender Amid Arezou from Norwegian club Arendal, adding experience, physicality and leadership to a backline that will be under immense pressure in the race for promotion.
The 29-year-old centre-back becomes Gokulam’s latest overseas reinforcement as the Malabarians look to bridge the gap to the league leaders and mount a serious push for a place in the Indian Super League. With the promotion race finely balanced, Arezou’s arrival is as much a strategic move as it is a footballing one.
A defender built for high-pressure football
Standing at 1.90 metres, Arezou brings a physical presence that is rare in Indian football. Comfortable playing both as a central defender and as a right-back, he offers José Hevia the flexibility to shift systems mid-game something that has become increasingly important in a league where tactical margins are thin.
Gokulam’s recent campaigns have been characterised by attacking intent but also by defensive vulnerability in big moments. Late goals conceded, struggles at set-pieces and difficulties dealing with physical forwards have cost the club crucial points in tight promotion races. Arezou has been recruited specifically to address that weakness.
In Norway, where he has spent most of his career, defenders are conditioned to deal with direct football, aerial bombardment and quick transitions. That experience translates well to the I-League, where long balls, set-piece routines and counter-attacks often decide matches.
International pedigree that matters
What makes Arezou’s signing even more significant is his status as an Afghanistan international. Since making his debut in 2024, he has become a regular starter for the national team and has already faced some of Asia’s strongest sides. His international breakthrough came in a World Cup qualifier against Qatar, where Afghanistan held the Asian champions to a 0–0 draw. He has also played full matches against India, Iran, Tajikistan and Pakistan in continental and regional competitions. For a defender, that kind of exposure builds tactical awareness, composure and leadership qualities Gokulam desperately need during high-pressure matches.
Perhaps most importantly for Indian football context, Arezou has already played against Indian attackers at international level. That familiarity with their movement patterns, physicality and tempo gives him an immediate advantage in the I-League environment.
A Norwegian football education
Although he represents Afghanistan, Arezou is a product of the Norwegian football system, which is known for its focus on structure, fitness and defensive organisation. Over the past decade, he has played across multiple levels in Norway, including spells with Express, IF Trauma, Vindbjart and Arendal. This background has shaped him into a defender who values positioning and discipline over reckless challenges. He is not a flashy centre-back, but he is a reliable one the type who makes fewer mistakes, wins his aerial duels and keeps the defensive line organised.
That profile fits neatly into Hevia’s system, which requires defenders who can hold a high line, cover wide spaces and still remain compact when defending crosses.
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Under I-League regulations, clubs can field a limited number of foreign players, including one from an AFC-affiliated country. Arezou fills that Asian quota, allowing Gokulam to continue using their European slots in midfield and attack. This makes his signing doubly valuable. Instead of spending a foreign slot on a defensive role, Gokulam get an international-level centre-back while preserving their ability to deploy Spanish and African players higher up the pitch.
From a squad-building perspective, it is a move that increases quality without reducing flexibility.
What he brings to Gokulam’s defence
Arezou is expected to slot into the heart of defence alongside Indian centre-backs like Harpreet Singh, Gursimrat Singh or Mashoor Shereef. His job will not just be to clear balls and win headers, but to lead to call the line, organise marking at set-pieces, and calm younger players when pressure rises. Gokulam’s attacking players have often delivered, but promotion races are usually decided at the back. Clean sheets, one-goal wins and late defensive stands matter more than stylish football in April and May.
In that sense, Arezou is not just a signing for today, but a signing for the weeks when every point feels like gold.
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Gokulam Kerala have a history of trusting Afghan footballers, most notably Zohib Islam Amiri, who became a cult figure at the club. Arezou now carries that legacy forward, bringing with him a similar blend of resilience, professionalism and hunger.
The Afghan national team’s current head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese who previously led Gokulam to domestic success has worked closely with Arezou at international level. That connection further strengthens the belief that the club have signed a defender who understands what is required to win in this environment. With the I-League table tightly packed, Gokulam Kerala cannot afford defensive lapses in the business end of the season. The arrival of Amid Arezou is a clear signal of intent: this club is no longer gambling on hope, but investing in control.
If Arezou settles quickly, adapts to Indian conditions and finds chemistry with his teammates, he could become the missing piece that finally pushes Gokulam over the promotion line. For a club that has come painfully close in recent years, this Afghan wall at the back might be exactly what they have been waiting for.
