Jamshedpur FC

The young Nikhil Barla has renewed his contract with Jamshedpur till May 2028. The 20-year-old winger, hailing from Khunti, has been making rapid strides moving through the ranks in the Jamshedpur FC youth setup to the first team. He has been impressing fans and coaches alike with his versatility, pace, and skill on the field. Capable of playing across various positions on the right wing, Barla has already shown his prowess in the Indian Super League (ISL) with three assists last season. His impressive performances have earned him increasingly more playing time with his confidence growing each game.

Nikhil is the third player from Jharkhand in Jamshedpur, after Amrit Gope and Mobashir Rehman.

Nikhil Barla expressed his delight at extending his stay with the Khalid Jamil-led side, stating, "I'm overjoyed to continue my journey with Jamshedpur FC. My priority is to deliver outstanding performances in every match, leveraging Coach Khalid Jamil's expertise to enhance my skills. I'm determined to repay the trust he's placed in me with performances on the field. The club's faith in me has boosted my confidence, and I'm eager to make the vociferous fans of Jharkhand proud.”

Nikhil Barla's football journey began at the esteemed Tata Football Academy (TFA) in 2018, where he honed his skills for four years. During his tenure at TFA, Barla represented Jamshedpur FC in the Durand Cup (2020-21) and the Reliance Foundation Development League (2021-22). He also donned the Jharkhand jersey in the Santosh Trophy (2021-22), claiming Man of the Match honours twice. After graduating from TFA in 2022, Barla made his ISL debut with Jamshedpur FC in the 2022-23 season, rapidly gaining confidence and showcasing his prowess as a young forward. His impressive performances resulted in three assists in the 2023-24 ISL season, cementing his place in the team.

Head Coach Khalid Jamil shared his enthusiasm about the signing, saying, “Nikhil Barla is a talented young player who offers versatility with his ability to play in multiple positions. I believe he should aim high and dream big, as he has the potential to achieve great things. As a local boy, he brings a unique advantage to the team, and I'm excited to see him grow. Last season, he got ample game time to showcase his skills, and I'm confident that this season will be even better for him. He needs to build on the last season and cement his place in the starting line up with consistent performances".

With his contract extension settled, Nikhil Barla is set to don the jersey number 77, July onwards in pre-season. As he prepares to take the field once again, fans can expect more exciting performances from the talented local boy.