#3 NorthEast United - 3 players
The Highlanders have again undergone a complete revamp of personnel but retain the same Portuguese flavour they had last season with Nelo Vingada. Joao De Deus is their new head coach but it will be the Highlanders' faithful who will remember the likes of Andre Bikey, Emiliano Alfaro and Mailson Alves from previous seasons.
All three of the aforementioned players will ply their trade this season at other clubs, and it will be the loss of Alfaro to Pune City that will sting the most since the Uruguayan scored the most number of goals for the club last season. Bikey, too, was a rock at the back for the Highlanders two seasons ago, while Mailson has returned to Chennaiyin after a solid campaign in 2016.