Mumbai City FC strengthened their midfield with the loan signing of 26-year-old midfielder Hitesh Sharma from Odisha FC. This deal means Sharma will wear Islander’s blue jersey until the end of the 2024-25 season.
Born in Jalandhar, Hitesh honed his skills at the Chandigarh Football Academy and Tata Football Academy (TFA). After graduating from TFA, he made his I-league debut with Mumbai FC in 2016 against Salgaocar FC. Known for his pace and tactical awareness, he impressed the scouts and earned a contract in the ISL.
His ISL journey started with ATK when they picked him from the ISL draft conducted ahead of season four. He spent 2 seasons with the team from Kolkata, donning the red and white jersey for 30 times. Teddy Sheringham, his coach at ATK, remarked in 2017, “He [Sharma] has a very good positional sense, and he would be a star when he reaches 25.” However, an unfortunate ankle injury sidelined him for almost a season in 2019.
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This was followed by stint with Hyderabad FC. He enjoyed success under Manolo Marques, clocking over 1000 minutes in that season. He was given the role of central midfielder and defensive midfielder by Manolo, unlike his previous coaches who used him as an attacking option. His hard work paid off and the spectators of Indian football again started noticing him. He was given two years extension after that brilliant season and the very next season, he won the ISL Cup with Hyderabad FC. He played 59 matches for Hyderabad, scoring twice and assisting thrice.
Manolo Marquez, the Spanish tactician and his coach at Hyderabad FC, remarked, “It’s very difficult to find a player like him (Hitesh) who understands what to do at every moment“, emphasizing the game awareness of the player.
In January 2024, he switched his allegiance to Odisha FC by signing a two-and-a-half-year-long contract. He has already made 81 appearances in the ISL and made his India International debut in 2018 under Stephen Constantine.
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Hitesh Sharma expressed his excitement:
“I am thrilled to join Mumbai City FC, a club renowned for its vision and strong commitment to success. Representing the club in various competitions and contributing to its objectives will be an honor. I look forward to meeting my new teammates and fans and enjoying my time in the amazing city of Mumbai.”
Petr Kratky – Head Coach, of Mumbai City FC, welcomed the new signing by saying,
“We are pleased to welcome Hitesh Sharma to our club. His experience with various ISL clubs, combined with his versatility, will provide valuable depth to our midfield options. We are confident that he will fit seamlessly into our squad, and we look forward to working together.”
