India U-17 national team goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem (Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)
After his strong performances for the India U-17 team and the Indian Arrows, India youth goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem has also impressed Scottish Premiership side Motherwell FC, who have now officially offered him a three year contract.
But it all depends on the fact if Dheeraj would receive a UK work permit (work visa) or not to play for Motherwell FC as the UK regulations are amongst the toughest in the world.
Dheeraj has been training with Motherwell FC since February 2018 and has convinced the coaches and management at the club to offer him a long-term contract, which would make him the second Indian footballer after Mohammed Salim at Celtic Glasgow in 1936 to sign a contract in Scotland and also the youngest Indian football top level footballer to do so after Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Subrata Pal, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and others.
Dheeraj had an impressive outing for India at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup at home and since then Motherwell FC had shown interest to offer the young keeper a training stint and trial to try to impress the club coaches to earn a contract with them once he turns 18 in July 2018.
After the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Dheeraj joined the AIFF developmental side Indian Arrows to play in the I-League, but left them at the end of last year as the AIFF was only willing to keep him if he signed a three year contract. Dheeraj then with the help of his agent trained with Indian Super League franchise Kerala Blasters while his visa application was being processed.