East Bengal FC retains defensive mainstay Hijazi Maher's services for another two years | ISL 2024-25

East Bengal FC announced a two-year contract extension for Hijazi Maher on Tuesday, June 25, keeping the Jordanian at the club until the end of the 2025-26 season.

The 26-year-old was pivotal in the club's victorious Kalinga Super Cup 2024 campaign, earning him the Best Defender award trophy for the tournament.

Expressing his delight in cementing his future with the Red and Gold Brigade, Maher said in a club statement (via ISL official website):

"East Bengal holds a special place in my heart. I’ve experienced many special moments with this great club and I can feel how much the fans love me. They give me a lot of energy for every game and I always try to make them happy in return."

"The Kalinga Super Cup was the first trophy I won outside Jordan. We want to scale even greater heights next season. I would like to thank Coach Carles and the Emami East Bengal management for trusting my abilities. I can’t wait to return to Kolkata," the centre-back added.

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"Hijazi has become an important player in our defensive system" - Carles Cuadrat on Hijazi Maher's contract extension

Since joining the Torchbearers in September last year, Hijazi Maher has played 1,938 minutes across 22 matches, including 17 in the Indian Super League and five in the Kalinga Super Cup. His impact on the East Bengal backline was immediate and his numbers are a testament to it.

In just the ISL, the defender recorded the second-highest clearances (99), second-highest headed clearances (58), and second-most blocks (22). He set a record for the most clearances in a single ISL match with 14 clearances against Mumbai City FC. Additionally, Maher contributed offensively by scoring two goals in the Kalinga Super Cup.

After his extension, head coach Carles Cuadrat understandably emphasized Maher’s importance in the team’s defensive system:

"Hijazi has become an important player in our defensive system, achieving incredible numbers. His solidity was one of the prime reasons why we could achieve the best defensive numbers since our entry into the ISL. Hijazi got offers from other clubs, but decided to play for us and help us in our AFC campaign and other important competitions."

A brief spell of shaky performances from Hijazi at the end of last season left fans slightly worried. With the 2024-25 season nearing, they will hope he returns to his rock-solid best, restoring the defensive stability they've come to depend on.