East Bengal FC has officially announced the signing of Indian international defender Jay Gupta from FC Goa on a four-year deal. While the transfer fee remains undisclosed, FC Goa described it as a "club record fee for an Indian player". Some reports suggest the fee is approximately ₹1.60 crore.

The 23-year-old Gupta is known for his versatility, capable of playing as a left-back or left center-back, bringing flexibility to East Bengal's defense. After spending time in the youth ranks of FC Pune City, Gupta honed his skills in Portugal with GDS Cascais and Estoril Praia B, and later in Spain with Ebre Escola Esportiva. He returned to India in mid-2023 and quickly became a key player for FC Goa, making 52 appearances in two seasons. In his 42 Indian Super League (ISL) appearances, Gupta has scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists.

Gupta played a crucial role in FC Goa's Kalinga Super Cup victory earlier in the year and their consecutive ISL semi-final appearances, including a second-place finish in the league phase last season. He has also earned a call-up to the Indian national team in 2024, where he has participated in World Cup qualifying matches.

East Bengal's Head of Football, Thangboi Singto, expressed his excitement about Gupta's arrival, stating that he is a "young and dynamic defender with immense potential and proven quality at both club and international levels". Singto added that Gupta's versatility would be a valuable asset to the team's backline.

Gupta himself conveyed his enthusiasm about joining East Bengal, calling it a "massive institution". He thanked the club's management and coach Oscar Bruzon for their faith in him and expressed his eagerness to make his debut for the Red & Gold Brigade, contribute to the team's success, and bring joy to the club's supporters. Gupta will wear jersey number 27.

This signing is part of East Bengal's efforts to strengthen their squad after an underwhelming ISL season where they missed out on the playoffs for the second consecutive year. To that end, East Bengal have parted ways with Messi Bouli, Hijazi Maher, Madih Talal, and Hector Yuste. The club has also brought in Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira, Palestinian international Mohammed Rashid, Moroccan forward Hamid Ahadad, and Argentine centre-back Kevin Sibille. The club has also signed Bipin Singh, Edmund Lalrindika, Martand Raina and Ramsanga. Key players from last season, Vishnu PV and Souvik Chakrabarti have also signed new deals with the club.