Template:Western name order Template:Meitei name
Template:Infobox football biography
Mahesh Singh Naorem (Template:Langx, born 3 March 1999) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Indian Super League club East Bengal and the India national team.
Club career
Early career
Born in Manipur, Singh began his career in his home state with Birchandra Memorial Sporting Club.[1] He soon joined the youth side of Shillong Lajong, playing for the club in the Shillong Premier League.[2]
Shillong Lajong
Prior to the 2018–19 season, Singh was promoted to the first-team. He made his professional debut for Shillong Lajong on 28 October 2018 against Aizawl. He scored a brace, two goals in the 20th and 51st minutes, as Shillong Lajong won 2–1.[3]
Kerala Blasters
In 2018, it was announced that Naorem had signed for the Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters from Shillong Lajong F.C.[4] Mahesh was part of Reserve squad of the club. Even though he impressed then Blasters assistant coach Ishfaq Ahmed, Mahesh never made an appearance for Kerala Blasters. He was loaned out to different clubs during his stint at Blasters.
Sudeva FC (loan)
In 2021, Mahesh was loaned to the I league side Sudeva Delhi for a season-long deal for getting enough playing time. He made 14 appearances and scored two goals for the club.
East Bengal
On loan from Kerala
Mahesh was loaned to Kolkata based club East Bengal in 2021. He made 18 appearances and scored 2 goals for them in the 2021–22 Indian Super League season.[5]
Permanent transfer
On 4 August 2022, Kerala Blasters announced the transfer of Mahesh to East Bengal for an undisclosed transfer fee.[6] On 18 November 2022, he scored against Odisha at the Salt Lake Stadium in a 2–4 loss for East Bengal.[7][8] He bragged man of the match against Jamshedpur on 27 November 2022 after becoming the first Indian player to get three assists in a single Indian Super League game.[9] He scored again on 19 February 2023, against the Shield Champions Mumbai City at the Mumbai Football Arena in a 1–0 win for East Bengal.[10][11]
In the 2023–24 season, Mahesh became runner-up in the 2023 Durand Cup, and on 23 September 2023, it was announced that Mahesh had signed a three-year extension with East Bengal till 2027.[12] He scored his first goal of the 2023 Indian Super League against Bengaluru on 3 October in a 2–1 defeat away at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.[13] He scored again on 21 October 2023 against Goa in a 1–2 loss at the Kalinga Stadium.[14] Mahesh won the 2024 Indian Super Cup with East Bengal, having returned from the national team in time for the final of the tournament, and provide an assist for Nandhakumar Sekar as East Bengal won 3–2 against Odisha to end a twelve year wait for a major domestic trophy for the club.[15] In the 2024–25 season, Mahesh made his one hundreth appearance for East Bengal on 20 April 2025 against Kerala Blasters in the 2025 Indian Super Cup April edition match.
Announced as Captain
In the 2025–26 season, Naorem Mahesh Singh was announced as the captain for the East Bengal squad.[16]
International career
On 14 March 2023, Singh was named amongst the eleven reserves for Indian senior squad for upcoming Hero Tri-Nation International Football Tournament.[17] Five days later, he was called up to the Indian senior camp for the first time, in place of Sivasakthi Narayanan, who withdrew through an injury.[18] He made his debut against Myanmar on 22 March, replacing Lallianzuala Chhangte after 70 minutes in a 1–0 victory.[19] Mahesh got his second appearance against Kyrgyzstan on 28 March, replacing Brandon Fernandes after 56 minute in a 2–0 victory.
On 24 June 2023, Mahesh got his first goal for the national team against Nepal in a 2–0 victory.[20] On 7 September, he scored his second goal in a 2(4)–2(5) semi-final loss against Iraq at the 2023 King's Cup.[21] On 13 October 2023, Mahesh got his third goal against Malaysia in the 2023 Merdeka Tournament in a 2–4 loss in the semi-final.[22]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Others | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Shillong Lajong | 2018–19 | I-League | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 4 | ||
| Kerala Blasters B | 2020 | I-League 2nd Division | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 1 | ||
| Kerala Blasters | 2020–21 | Indian Super League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Sudeva Delhi (loan) | 2020–21 | I-League | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 2 | ||
| East Bengal (loan) | 2021–22 | Indian Super League | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 2 | ||
| East Bengal | 2022–23 | 19 | 2 | 3Template:Efn | 3 | — | 2Template:Efn | 0 | 24 | 5 | ||
| 2023–24 | 21 | 4 | 1Template:Efn | 0 | — | 6Template:Efn | 1 | 28 | 5 | |||
| 2024–25 | 20 | 2 | 1Template:Efn | 0 | 6Template:Efn | 0 | 3Template:Efn | 0 | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2025–26 | 4 | 0 | 5Template:Efn | 1 | — | 6Template:Efn | 1 | 15 | 2 | |||
| East Bengal total | 82 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 115 | 16 | ||
| Career total | 119 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 152 | 24 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 2023 | 15 | 3 |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 | |
| Total | 30 | 3 | |
International goals
- India score listed first, score column indicates score after each Singh's goal.[24]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 June 2023 | Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru, India | 8 | Template:Fb | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2023 SAFF Championship | [20] |
| 2 | 7 September 2023 | 700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai, Thailand | 12 | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 2–2
(4-5) |
2023 King's Cup | [21] |
| 3 | 13 October 2023 | Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 14 | Template:Fb | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2023 Merdeka Tournament | [22] |
Honours
India
Kerala Blasters B
East Bengal
- Super Cup: 2024
- Durand Cup runner-up: 2023
- IFA Shield runner-up: 2025
Individual
- Indian Super League Emerging Player of the Month: November 2022[26]
References
- ↑ Player List of Birchandra Memorial Sporting Club (BMSC) for Manchester United Premier Cup Football Asia SEAS Final Match 2013. E-Pao(23 May 2013).
- ↑ Below par MLP lose 1-0 again, this time to Lajong. The Sports Room(9 October 2018).
- ↑ Shillong Lajong 2-1 Aizawl. Soccerway. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- ↑ ISL 2020 - Kerala Blasters sign Lajong youth product Naorem Mahesh Singh. The Fan Garage(26 August 2020).
- ↑ ISL 2021-22: Mahesh scores twice to give SC East Bengal its first win, Sharma, Amitabha Das. Sportstar(19 January 2022). Retrieved 2022-07-07.
- ↑ Emami East Bengal announces list of 13 domestic players in senior squad(3 August 2022). Retrieved 3 August 2022.
- ↑ Pedro leads the charge as Odisha FC stun East Bengal FC with second-half comeback(18 November 2022). Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ↑ Odisha FC stun East Bengal with second-half comeback(18 November 2022). Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ↑ When we play well, we are a difficult team to beat: East Bengal FC head coach Constantine(27 November 2022). Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ↑ East Bengal FC sour Mumbai City FC's Shield party with first ever win against the Islanders(19 February 2023). Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ↑ ISL: East Bengal stun Mumbai City to record first win over The Islanders(19 February 2023). Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ↑ Naorem Mahesh Singh signs long-term extension at East Bengal(23 September 2023).
- ↑ REPORT: JAVI HERNANDEZ'S WONDER GOAL INSPIRES BENGALURU FC TO VICTORY OVER EAST BENGAL FC(4 October 2023).
- ↑ REPORT: FC GOA MAINTAIN PERFECT START WITH COMEBACK WIN OVER EAST BENGAL FC(21 October 2023).
- ↑ 12 years of pall of gloom lifted: East Bengal win a spine-chiller to take home Kalinga Super Cup(28 January 2024).
- ↑ সুপার কাপ প্রস্তুতির আগে পয়লা বৈশাখে বারপুজোয় মাতল ইস্টবেঙ্গল, Ghosh, Subhasish(15 April 2025).
- ↑ Igor Stimac names provisional squad ahead of Hero Tri-Nation International Football Tournament. The AIFF(14 March 2023). Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ↑ Pritam Kotal, Naorem Mahesh Singh to join Blue Tigers camp. The AIFF(19 March 2023). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ↑ Anirudh Thapa strikes in India's win over Myanmar in Hero Tri-Nation opener, Ghosh, Soumo(22 March 2023).
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 India 2-0 Nepal Football Highlights: Sunil Chhetri, Mahesh score as India enters SAFF Championship 2023 semifinals. Sportstar(24 June 2023). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 King's Cup battle: Feisty India pay the penalty in shoot-out against Iraq. the-aiff.com(7 September 2023). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 India finish at the receiving end in Merdeka Tournament semi-finals. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ↑ Template:Soccerway
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Template:NFT
- ↑ India too good for Kyrgyz Republic; crowned Hero Tri-Nation champions in Imphal. AIFF. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ↑ Template:Cite tweet
Template:East Bengal FC squad Template:India squad 2023 AFC Asian Cup