The mutual termination of José Manuel ‘Chema’ Núñez Martín, Chema Núñez’s contract with Northeast United FC on January 15, 2026 marked more than the departure of a foreign midfielder.
It became a telling reflection of the shifting economic and structural realities of the Indian Super League (ISL) during the 2025–26 season, where ambition was forced to realign with pragmatism. For NorthEast United, Chema’s exit closed a chapter that had promised tactical evolution and continental flair. For the league at large, it underlined how a truncated calendar and financial uncertainty can reshape squad-building mid-season.
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When Northeast United signed Chema Núñez in July 2025, the intent was unmistakable. The Highlanders wanted a midfield conductor someone schooled in Spanish positional play who could dictate tempo, unlock low blocks, and bring a refined technical identity under head coach Juan Pedro Benali. A product of the Sevilla FC academy with extensive experience across Spain’s professional tiers, Chema arrived as the creative fulcrum around which the team’s attacking play was meant to revolve.
His profile fit neatly into Benali’s philosophy. Left-footed, comfortable between the lines, and adept at controlling rhythm, Chema was envisioned as the missing link between midfield stability and attacking efficiency, especially with forwards like Alaaeddine Ajaraie leading the line.
Early Returns and Silverware
Chema’s integration into the squad was swift. The 2025 Durand Cup served as his introduction to Indian football, and while his raw numbers (one assist across the tournament) did not stand out, his influence was evident in NorthEast United’s ball progression and positional structure. The Highlanders went on to lift the Durand Cup for the second consecutive season, giving Chema his first piece of silverware in India and reinforcing the sense that the project was moving in the right direction.
His most productive phase came during the AIFF Super Cup, where he briefly showcased why he had been recruited. Operating higher up the pitch, Chema contributed two goals and an assist in the group stage, including decisive moments against Jamshedpur FC and FC Goa. In a short span, he was directly involved in half of Northeast United’s goals in the competition, underlining his value when given freedom closer to the goal.
Across all competitions, Chema finished his stint with nine appearances, two goals, and two assists in just over 650 minutes efficient returns for a midfielder still adapting to a new league.
The Turning Point: A Shrinking Season
Despite the promising on-field signs, January 2026 brought developments that fundamentally altered the context of the ISL. With the league forced into a 16-match format due to scheduling and commercial uncertainties, clubs suddenly faced a dramatically different cost-benefit equation. Maintaining high-earning foreign players for a shortened season became financially difficult, particularly for clubs operating without the commercial buffers of metropolitan giants.
For NorthEast United, the situation was clear. Keeping Chema an established European professional in his prime made little sense when match opportunities were limited and the long-term stability of the league calendar was uncertain. From the player’s perspective, an extended period with reduced competitive football posed a risk to his career trajectory.
The result was a mutual termination, framed not as a failure of performance or fit, but as a necessary response to a new economic reality.
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Chema’s departure was part of a broader foreign player exodus from the ISL in early 2026. Several clubs released overseas players under similar circumstances, signalling a league-wide recalibration rather than isolated decision-making. The ISL, once characterized by aggressive foreign recruitment, entered a phase where sustainability took precedence over star power.
In this context, Chema became a casualty of structural constraints rather than tactical misjudgment.
Tactical and Sporting Impact
On the pitch, his exit left a clear void. Benali’s midfield blueprint built around a Spanish core had to be reworked. Greater responsibility shifted to Andy Rodríguez, while domestic players like Bekey Oram and Mayakkannan Muthu were pushed into more prominent roles. The emphasis moved from controlled possession to functional balance, with increased reliance on transitions and the attacking output of Indian players.
While this shift diluted some of the creative control Chema provided, it aligned with the club’s longer-term philosophy of developing regional talent under a stable coaching structure.
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Among supporters, Chema’s departure was met with mixed emotions. There was disappointment at losing a technically gifted midfielder just as he appeared to be finding rhythm, but also an understanding of the constraints involved. NorthEast United’s messaging rooted in the “8 States, 1 United” identity, emphasized continuity, community, and long-term vision over short-term disruption.
The Durand Cup triumph and Benali’s contract extension helped cushion the blow, reinforcing that the club’s foundations remained intact despite roster turbulence.
A Departure That Says More About the League
Ultimately, Chema Núñez’s ISL stint will be remembered as brief but purposeful. He contributed silverware, moments of quality, and a glimpse of what a fully realized midfield project could have looked like over a longer season.
More importantly, his exit highlighted a critical phase in Indian football’s evolution, one where clubs are being forced to balance ambition with financial realism. For Northeast United, letting Chema go was about survival and sustainability. For the ISL, it was another signal that structural stability must precede long-term sporting growth.
In that sense, Chema’s departure was not an ending born of failure but a reminder that even the best-laid footballing plans are ultimately shaped by forces beyond the pitch.
