Scotland's Rangers sign Bala Devi- first Indian woman to play professional football abroad

Rangers Women's Football Club, a Scottish professional soccer club, has anunced signing of Bala Devi, attacker of India’s national women’s football team. Glasgow-based club took to Twitter to anunce 18-month-deal with Bala Devi from Manipur Police Sports Club, after a successful spell of trial in vember.

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Top scorer for national team

signing, subject to international clearance, will make 29-year-old first Indian woman to play professional football anywhere in world and also Rangers’ first Asian international footballer. Bala has t only served as national team captain but also has been top scorer in Indian Women’s League for past two seasons.

In her years of international career, which started at of 15, Bala is currently top scorer for national team, with 52 goals in 58 games since 2010. At domestic level, she has scored over 100 goals in 120 games and has been named as All India Football Federation (AIFF) Women’s Player of Year in 2015 and 2016.

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Rangers, in a statement, said that deal was made possible because of network provided through its partnership with Bengaluru FC anunced in September 2019. “I hope my move to Rangers serves as an example to all women footballers back home in India who dream of taking up sport professionally,” said Bala in a statement. Indian football fans showed ir excitement after reports emerged saying y are waiting for Bala to make her debut at European professional club.

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