Mumbai City FC set to sign Spanish defender Tiri

Indian Super League shield winners Mumbai City FC are in talks with experienced Spanish defender José Luis Espinosa Arroyo aka Tiri, Halfway Football can confirm.

Following the departure of Mourtada Fall, Mumbai City FC has been actively seeking a foreign defender as his replacement. Tiri, an experienced defender with over 100 appearances in the Indian Super League, has been identified as a potential candidate to fill the void left by Fall.

“Club (Mumbai City FC) was already in the market looking for a foreign defender soon after Mourtada Fall’s departure. They have now identified Spaniard Tiri as his potential replacement,” a source tracking the developments told Halfway Football.

Tiri began his youth career with Cadiz FC in the second division of Spain and was later drafted into ATK FC for the 2015 season, where he quickly established himself as an integral part of their defensive set-up. Tiri played a key role in ATK FC’s Hero ISL trophy-winning campaign in 2016 before moving on to Jamshedpur FC for the 2017-18 season, where he emerged as a standout player. Tiri then joined ATK Mohun Bagan for the 2020-21 Hero ISL season.

Tiri missed the entire 2022-23 season due to injury, came back at the end of the season and played two matches for the mariners in the Hero Super Cup. Tiri will be a vital addition to the Islanders defensive department and will be looking to defend the ISL League Winners’ Shield.

Mumbai City FC has already extended the contracts of several foreign players, including Argentine striker Jorge Pereyra Díaz, Spanish midfielder Alberto Noguera, and Australian defender Rostyn Griffiths. Additionally, Scottish attacker Greg Stewart already has an existing contract with the club. Also, Ahmed Jahouh will be leaving the club after his contract being coming to an end this season.