East Bengal FC’s signing of India international forward Jyoti Chouhan ahead of the 2025–26 season marks one of the most strategic acquisitions in the recent history of the Indian Women’s League.
The move is not simply about bringing home a player who has excelled abroad; it represents a calculated step toward consolidating East Bengal’s domestic standing while preparing for the club’s first-ever campaign in the AFC Women’s Champions League. Chouhan arrives in Kolkata after spending two seasons in Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb, where she became the first Indian footballer male or female to score a hat-trick for a European club, achieving the feat against ZNK Agram in 2023.
Across her tenure in the Croatian top flight, she scored 18 goals in 25 appearances, demonstrating proven efficiency at a higher competitive level. Her return to the Indian Women’s League comes at a pivotal time. East Bengal won their maiden IWL title in April 2025, a triumph that earned them direct qualification into the main tournament of the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL), featuring 12 clubs across Asia.
The continental format a centralized group stage demanding high tactical discipline and physical intensity requires players experienced in structured league environments. Chouhan fits this requirement seamlessly.
Reuniting with Anthony Andrews: Tactical Continuity
A key dimension of this move is Chouhan’s reunion with Head Coach Anthony Andrews, under whom she previously played at Gokulam Kerala, contributing to their league title in the 2021–22 season. She has openly credited Andrews for shaping her development as a professional footballer, and the coach has likewise emphasized her evolution, maturity, and tactical readiness.
This pre-existing relationship streamlines integration. East Bengal are not merely acquiring a forward—they are adding a player already well-versed in the coach’s system, pressing structure, and tempo. The transfer therefore carries unusually low adaptation risk and high immediate output potential, a critical advantage given the tight schedule leading into continental competition.
Strategic Timing and Competitive Balance
East Bengal’s recruitment strategy aligns with two overlapping objectives:
| Objective | Competition | Role of Chouhan | Outcome Target |
| Defend IWL Title | IWL 2025–26 | Proven domestic match-winner | Establish long-term league dominance |
| Debut on Continental Stage | AFC Women’s Champions League | European-tempered finishing, tactical composure | Ensure competitive credibility in Asia |
By signing Chouhan, East Bengal are also reshaping the competitive dynamics of the IWL. The club had already signaled its ambition when it brought Andrews from Gokulam Kerala on what is believed to be a record coaching move in Indian women’s football. Adding Chouhan reinforces this strategy by weakening a former rival while strengthening their own attacking core.
A Story Rooted in Resilience
Chouhan’s journey carries wider significance for Indian football development. Coming from Sardarpur in Madhya Pradesh, she grew up in a household facing severe financial hardship. After the early loss of her father, her mother supported her career while working as a daily wage farm laborer. Her ascent to European football and now leadership status within the Indian national setup embodies a narrative that resonates far beyond the field.
This context makes her return particularly meaningful for aspiring players across smaller regions with limited pathways. It reinforces that success in women’s football is possible not only academically or institutionally but through professional sport.
Role in the National Team
Chouhan has made steady progress within the Indian national team, scoring her first senior international goal against Pakistan in the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship, converting a headed finish from a Dalima Chhibber corner. The nature of the goal reflects key technical and positional improvements gained in Europe especially timing in the penalty area and aerial strength.
Those qualities are exactly what East Bengal will rely on in the AWCL, where chances may be few and finishing precision becomes decisive.
In the broader landscape of Indian women’s football, this transfer signals the maturing of the IWL market. Not only are clubs now exporting players to Europe, they are also strong enough to re-import those who have gained international competitive experience. This is the progression seen in developing football nations when domestic leagues begin to stabilize professionally.
For East Bengal, the 2025–26 season is about more than defending a title it is about establishing a standard. Chouhan is expected to be central to that effort, serving not only as a goal scorer but as a player who can guide the team through the psychological demands of knockout football.
Her signing reflects ambition, but also clarity of purpose. East Bengal are not participating in the AFC Women’s Champions League to learn they are entering to compete.
