Panaji: FC Goa have reached an agreement with East Bengal FC for the transfer of defender Jay Gupta after the club said it received a “record fee for an Indian player.”According to sources, East Bengal have agreed to pay Rs 1.5 crore to secure Jay’s release while a further Rs 10 lakh have been added in bonuses based on appearances.The transfer fee is the highest that Goa have received for any domestic player, just ahead of Aibanbha Dohling, who joined Kerala Blasters for Rs 1.4 crore.Mumbai City paid Rs 1.6 crore to Goa when they chose to meet the buy-out clause for Hugo Boumous in 2020.“We’d like to thank Jay for an incredible two years in the orange and blue, a journey that saw us reach back-to-back semi-finals and lift the Kalinga Super Cup. Wishing you nothing but the best for your next chapter, Jay,” the club said in a post on social media on Tuesday.Jay joined Goa in the summer of 2023 and turned out to be an instant hit. Playing at left back for Goa, more out of compulsion than choice, he cemented his place and soon made it to the national team after coach Igor Stimac was impressed with his runs and crosses.The defender made 41 appearances for Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL), also winning the Super Cup under former India coach Manolo Marquez last season.
