NorthEast United FC sign English striker James Keene

NorthEast United FC have brought on board yet another international player and added more experience to the club with the signing of James Keene, a 28-year-old English striker who started his football career in 2005.

Keene is a product of the Portsmouth youth academy and he debuted in the 2005 English Premier League as a striker under Henry James “Harry” Redknapp, one of the senior-most managers in English professional football.

He is also Swedish champions Elfsborg’s top European scorer of all time and has been an integral member of the club’s Champions League campaign. Keene very quickly became one of the country’s most coveted footballers and was even touted as a future star of the Sweden national side.

Reacting to being signed by NorthEast United FC, Keene said, “I am very proud to be part of NorthEast United FC and it's great to know that the North-East is the powerhouse of Indian football and that the people here are very educated about the game as well.”

The team is currently working tirelessly every day to prepare for the Hero Indian Super League that will commence on October 12, 2014. Commenting on this, Keene added, “All of us are training very hard at the moment and the training is fantastic, especially working under an experienced coach, Ricki Herbert. We are excitedly waiting for the matches to start and hope that this new league will take Indian football to the global stage.”

Keene comes in with a wealth of top class experience and will lend incisiveness to the NorthEast United FC attack. With his signing, NorthEast United FC have upped the ante and are keen to make their mark in the ISL’s inaugural season.