Mahindra United signs Serb Mijin

To bolster their midfield, weakened by the flight of Ivory Coast's Pierre Douhou to Pune FC, Mumbai glamour outfit Mahindra United signed up Serbian Svetozar Mijin from Romania's top division Club FC Politehnica Iasi for the upcoming football season.

Mahindra United announced the signing of Mijin as their third overseas player for the season. They retained centre back Lamine Tamba and had drafted in striker Subair Muritala Ali of Nigeria during the pre-season training.

Mijin, a 30-year-old towering central medio, who also played for another Romanian first division club, CFR Cluj from 2004 to 2007, is new coach David Booth's fifth signing this season. The others are Denzil Franco, K Aseem, Muritala Ali and Subhodeep Mukherjee.

Possessing strong positional sense, tackling ability and fine passing skills, the club is hoping Mijin -- who is basically a defensive midfielder – will provide solidity in the middle of the pack as he can also be deployed in an attacking position.

Mijin, who started training with the team last week, will be a part of the squad that is to leave for Kolkata to take part in the IFA Shield, where Mahindra United are defending champions.