Bengaluru FC sign Aussie medio Paartalu

A day after releasing talismanic striker CK Vineeth, there was some cheer for Bengaluru FC fans as they signed Australian midfielder Erik Paartalu on a season-long deal, the club announced here on Wednesday.

Apart from striker Sunil Chhetri and young gun Udanta Singh, The Blues have also retained defender Juanan Gonzalez who will join John Johnson for another season at the heart of Bengaluru’s defence.

The towering  six foot four inch Sydney-born Paartalu began his career in the National Soccer League, now the A-League, with Northern Spirit. His stints in Australia included three seasons with Brisbane Roar when they played AFC Champions League football. At Brisbane, Paartalu won two Championships and one Premiership and played 85 consecutive matches while setting an Australian record of any sporting code with an unbeaten streak of 36 games.

Paartalu moved to Chinese side Tianjin TEDA FC in 2013 before a switch to Thailand with Muangthong United the following year. He was also part of South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai that went on to win the AFC Champions League.

The midfielder earned his first senior national team cap in 2012, playing in a World Cup Qualifier for the Australian National side against Saudi Arabia.

“I was really excited by the Bengaluru FC project because it is a club that's doing really well for itself in an expanding market. I spoke with Cameron Watson and he sold it to me,” said Paartalu.