Indian national team goalkeeper Subrata Pal has signed a six-month contract with Danish Superliga side FC Vestsjælland on Thursday.

IMG-Reliance contracted Subrata had arrived in Denmark earlier in January for a second training-cum-trial with the Danish club after the club stated their interest to sign the Indian keeper.

“I’m proud and I’m very, very happy”, Subrata told the club website after signing his contract at the sidelines of FC Vestsjælland’s winter training camp in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain. “I’ve worked hard to obtain a contract as the first Indian ever in European top football.”

FCV head coach Ove Pedersen and goalkeeping coach Claus Fallentin have already made clear that Subrata would be the number three goalkeeper at the club. Thomas Mikkelsen and Mads V. Petersen will be the first two goalkeepers.

“I am very pleased to train under our goalkeeping coach Claus Fallentin and I can learn very much from him. The two other goalkeepers have received me very well and they are really helpful.”

“I’m really glad to test myself at the highest level and to get an opportunity to improve,” Subrata added.

Gert Hansen (Director, FC Vestsjælland) feels that Subrata will be a strong addition to the squad and that the club has made the right direction, while taking the next level in the partnership with their Indian investors Anglian Holding.

“It is a signal to our Indian investors, Anglian Holding, and we have actually reached the objectives we set ourselves when we entered the cooperation… Namely that we should see if we could find an Indian strong enough for the squad and to develop the player,” Hansen told.

“We will try to open some doors to find some sponsorship from India. It is also part of the step,” Hansen underlined the commercial part of the deal.

“I do not expect Pal to play Danish Superliga matches in the spring. He might be with us, but he is not better than Thomas (Mikkelsen). It’s still a long way to go,” Hansen concluded.