Mumbai City FC have signed former Kerala Blasters and Argentinian forward Jorge Pereyra Díaz on a one-year contract ahead of the new season.
From the city of La Rioja in Argentina, Jorge started his professional career with Buenos Aires-based club Ferro and was drafted into the senior squad in 2009. The club play in the Nacional B – the Argentinian second tier. In 2013, he moved to another Argentinian club Club Atlético Lanús and won the Copa Sudamericana with the club.
Then in 2014, the striker moved to Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta’zim. Jorge was the top goal scorer in the 2016 Malaysia Super League and won the league in 2014 and 2016. During his stint with the club, he also went out on loan first to Argentinian club Club Atlético Independiente (2015) and then to a Mexican club (León) in 2017-18.
After ending his association with JDT early in 2018, Díaz went back briefly to Lanús and then played a couple of seasons of club football in Bolivia and Chile. In February 2021, he returned to Argentina with Club Atlético Platense who compete in the top-tier Argentine Primera División.
Later that year, Kerala Blasters struck a deal with Platense and brought the player out to India on a season-long loan deal. In 21 matches in the 2021-22 ISL, Díaz scored eight goals and assisted one as KBFC went on to reach the final of the Indian Super League. Overall in his club career, the 32-year-old has scored 37 goals and assisted 12 from a total of 164 appearances.
Other foreign arrivals for the new season at MCFC are Scottish forward Greg Stewart, Spanish midfielder Alberto Noguera and Australian defender Rostyn Griffiths. Captain Mourtada Fall and midfielder Ahmed Jahouh are the existing foreign players in the squad.
To join Mumbai City, it is an honour for me. When I knew the club wanted me to join and shared their intentions with me, it was an easy decision to make and I am happy to be here. I’ve only spent one season in India but there are only a few clubs which have the ambitions that Mumbai City do and I think it was on full display in the club’s performances in Asia last season.
As a footballer, you always want to achieve success wherever you go. I enjoyed my time in the ISL last season but there’s a lot left for me to achieve. I’ve had conversations with the coach Des and his vision of what he wants to achieve with the club convinced me that this is the right step for me. I am optimistic about the new season and I hope I can offer my experience to make great memories with Mumbai City and its fans.
Jorge Pereyra Díaz to MCFC Media
ISL 2021-22 STATS Jorge Pereyra Díaz
| Minutes played | 1571 (21 Matches) |
| Goals | 8 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Shots / on target | 30/56.70% |
| xG | 6.39 |
| Passes / accurate | 328/70.10% |
| Long passes / accurate | 12/58.30% |
| Crosses / accurate | 25/28% |
| Dribbles / successful | 58/44.8% |
| Duels / won | 447/30.60% |
| Aerial duels / won | 107/23% |
| Interceptions | 27 |
| Losses / own half | 222/18% |
| Recoveries / opp. half | 46/67.40% |
| Yellow card | 5 |
| Red card | 1 |
[…] the signing of Jorge Pereyra Diaz was announced, many wondered whether he was an upgrade in quality to the retiring Igor Angulo or […]