The 2025–26 season was Bengaluru FC's 13th season as a professional football club since its establishment in 2013 and 8th season in the Indian Super League. It ran from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026 with participation in the Indian Super League and Super Cup.
Owing to the major administrative and financial crisis in Indian football that arose from a dispute between All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), Bengaluru did not participate in the 2025 Durand Cup. The crisis further pushed the club to halting their pre-season activities, temporary suspension of first team players and staff in August 2025.
The Blues eventually resumed operations later in the year when a resolution was reached to start the Indian football season in late 2025 with participation in the 2025–26 AIFF Super Cup, where they finished second in the Group stage, missing out on knockout stage after going down to Punjab FC in a penalty shootout played to decide the Group's winner.
On 14 November 2025, head coach Gerard Zaragoza parted ways with the club. He was replaced by former India international Renedy Singh, who was appointed as the full-time head coach on 21 January 2026 to lead the team into the upcoming ISL season. To ensure the club's survival amid the ongoing financial crisis in Indian football, senior players including captain Sunil Chhetri agreed to significant pay cuts in February 2026. This "sacrifice" allowed the club to navigate a season with limited matchday revenue and a truncated league format.
In the truncated ISL season, Bengaluru began brightly with only five points dropped in the first half of the season. The Blues were in a serious contention for the title until Ashley Westwood led Kerala Blasters FC, who was coincidentally also the former coach of Bengaluru in their first season, handed a 1–2 defeat for the Blues at their home, which was also the first time Bengaluru had lost to Kerala Blasters at home. This defeat triggered a series of three draws with the Blues eventually dropping to fourth on the table at the end of the season.
Background After a disappointing campaign in the 2023–24 season, positive changes in the squad led the Blues to a significantly stronger 2024–25 season. Their resurgence saw them reach semi-finals in the Durand Cup, secure a third-place finish in the Super League standings and ultimately finish as runners-up in the Super League play-offs. However, they eventually fell short of any silverware after an early exit in the Super Cup in the round-of-16.
Owing to uncertainty in the future of Super League and administrative crisis in Indian football, the club cleared out high-earning foreign players and some veteran domestic names to rebuild under a "leaner" model to enable them to navigate the crisis. The club began its transfer window in June by signing extensions.
Forward Shivaldo Singh penned a new three-year deal that extended his contract until the end of 2027–28 season. Following his suite were Monirul Molla and Sahil Poonia who signed extensions for the same period. Among foreign players, Spaniard Édgar Méndez had signed a one-year extension, however, the crisis led uncertain future of the league meant the club parting ways the player in August. On 4 August 2025, Bengaluru had put out a statement on the suspension of first team players' and staff's salaries, before reinstating on 13th September.
In October, Moroccan defender Salaheddine Bahi was announced as the first signing of the season. Two days later, Ashique Kuruniyan who had left for Mohun Bagan Super Giant in 2022, was announced to rejoin the Blues in a long-term deal of four years. To strengthen the midfield after the departure of Alberto Noguera, Bengaluru announced the addition of Braian Sanchez.
2024–25 I-League Golden Glove winner Jaspreet Singh was also announced as a new addition to the squad's goalkeeping prowess. To further reduce the vacuum created in the midfield with departures of key players, Bengaluru added Uzbeki midfielder Sirojiddin Kuziev. Lastly, Ryan Williams was also handed an extension shunning the rumours which hinted at a move to Mohun Bagan. Halicharan Narzary was the only player to be loaned out to Diamond Harbour FC for an unknown period on 27 July 2025.
On 5 June 2025, the club published its sustainability report of 2024–25 season where it recycled of waste and thus avoided CO2 emissions. Former Bengaluru FC players Rino Anto and Shankar Sampingiraj decided to call an end to their careers, on the occasion the club wished them the best. On 20 July 2025, the club and its supporters celebrated the 12th anniversary of the club's foundation.
Transfers in No.PositionPlayerPrevious clubDateFeeRef 21 Salaheddine Bahi ‡ Hassania Agadir 1 October 2025 Free 13 Jaspreet Singh Namdhari FC 9 October 2025 10 Braian Sanchez Deportivo Riestra 7 October 2025Loan 22 Ashique Kuruniyan Mohun Bagan Super Giant 3 October 2025Free 6 Sirojiddin Kuziev Without a club 13 October 2025 Total transfers in 5 ‡ Left in January transfer window.
Promoted from youth system No.PositionPlayerPrevious clubPromotionFeeRef Aheibam Suraj Singh Bengaluru B 1 February 2026 Internal transfer (Youth system) 26 Harsh Palande 18 Haobam Ricky Meetei 66 Takhellambam Bungson Singh 38 Ningthoukhongjam Rishi Singh Mohammed Arbash 9 Wornilen Serto Kom Total promotions 6
Transfers out No.PositionPlayerOutgoing clubDateFeeRef 17 Edgar Mendez PT Prachuap F.C. June 2025 Free 30 Jorge Pereyra Díaz Mumbai City FC June 2025 10 Alberto Noguera Chennaiyin FC 28 January 2026 6 Harsh Patre FC Goa 17 July 2025 6 Rohit Danu Inter Kashi FC 31 January 2026 2 Aleksander Jovanovic Retired 31 May 2025 18 Pedro Capo CF Talavera de la Reina June 2025 21 Salaheddine Bahi RCA Zemamra January 2026 Total transfers out 8
Loans out No.PositionPlayerOutgoing clubDateFeeDurationRef 19 Halicharan Narzary Diamond Harbour FC 27 July 2025 Undisclosed One season
Overview Competitions
Personnel Role Name Refs. Head coach Pep Muñoz Assistant coach Goalkeeping coach Muhammed Rashid Nalakath Strength and conditioning coach { Team analyst Prateek Chopra Reserves coach Renedy Singh Academy head coach Sandesh Bhoite Head Physio Naved Hameed Assistant physio Sanket Thakar Masseur { Total staff 7
Players under contract
No. Name Nationality Position Date of Birth (Age) Since Until Picked for SC ISL Goalkeepers 1 Gurpreet Singh Sandhu GK 2017 2028 13 Jaspreet Singh GK 2025 28 Lalthuammawia Ralte GK 2024 2025 30 Sahil Poonia GK 2023 2026 Aheibam Suraj Singh GK 2025 2028 Defenders 2 Rahul Bheke RB 2024 2026 4 Chinglensana Singh CB 2024 2029 12 Mohamed Salah RB 2024 2025 18 Haobam Ricky Meetei RB 2025 2027 21 Salaheddine Bahi ‡ CB 2025 2026 25 Namgyal Bhutia RB 2020 2026 26 Harsh Palande CB 2025 2029 27 Nikhil Poojary RB 2024 2028 32 Roshan Singh LB 2020 2029 66 Takhellambam Bungson Singh CB 2025 2028 Midfielders 6 Sirojiddin Kuziev CM 2025 8 Suresh Singh DM 2019 2028 10 Braian Sánchez DM 2025 14 Soham Varshneya MF 2024 2027 23 Lalremtluanga Fanai DM 2020 2028 31 Vinith Venkatesh CM 2022 2028 38 Ningthoukhongjam Rishi Singh MF 2025 51 Shivaldo Singh RM 2023 2026 Mohammed Arbash CM 2025 2027 Forwards 7 Ryan Williams RW 2023 9 Serto Worneilen Kom CF 2025 11 Sunil Chhetri CF 2013 2026 17 Monirul Molla CF 2023 2026 19 Halicharan Narzary† LW 2023 2026 22 Ashique Kuruniyan LW 2025 2029 37 Kelvin Singh Taorem FW 2024 39 Sivasakthi Narayanan CF 2021 † Loaned out. ‡ Left in January transfer window
Pre-season Despite the crisis, the club began its pre-season in September. The team's Masseur, Manu Prasad, who was part of the staff since 2017–18 season left the club to his hometown for personal reasons. The Blues had to continue without Prasad, who was referred to as a beloved member of the squad and his hands as "God's gifted" by Sunil Chhetri himself. On 17 September, the Blues arrived in Bengaluru to begin their pre-season training campaign at the newly constructed and India's first hybrid training pitch, located in Yelahanka.
On 2 October 2025, sprinter Usain Bolt joined the club owner Parth Jindal along with some of the first team players in a five-a-side friendly against Mumbai City, organised by Puma. Amidst uncertainty of the league's resumption, Bengaluru FC did not host their traditional pre-season open training session.
Friendlies
Super Cup
Group C
Super League
Summary
Result summary
Results by round
League matches
Accolades
On 30 October 2025, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu became the third player after Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh to make 200th appearance for Bengaluru. It came against Mohammedan SC at the Super Cup where he managed to keep a clean-sheet throughout the three games played at the tournament. On 15 February 2026, at 41 years and 196 days, Sunil Chhetri became the oldest goalscorer in the Indian Super League's history, overtaking Robert Pires who scored for FC Goa during the 2014 season, aged 42 years and 15 days. Player of the match awards Rank Player ISL SC Total 1 Ryan Williams 3 1 4 2 Kelvin Singh 0 1 1 3 Nikhil Poojary 1 0 1 Ashique Kuruniyan 1 0 1 Namgyal Bhutia 1 0 1 Chinglensana Singh 1 0 1 Braian Sánchez 1 0 1 Totals 7 2 9 Updated: 10 May 2026
Statistics Appearances and goals
! colspan=12 style="background:#2545A0; color:#FFFFFF; ; text-align:center| Goalkeepers
! colspan=12 style="background:#2545A0; color:#FFFFFF; ; text-align:center| Defenders
! colspan=12 style="background:#2545A0; color:#FFFFFF; ; text-align:center| Midfielders
! colspan=12 style="background:#2545A0; color:#FFFFFF; ; text-align:center| Forwards
Updated: 16 may 2026
Goal scorers PlayerISLSCTotal 1 7 RW Ryan Williams 4 2 6 2 11 CF Sunil Chhetri 2 2 4 10 AM Braian Sánchez 4 0 4 4 22 LW Ashique Kuruniyan 3 0 3 5 37 RW Kelvin Singh 0 1 1 31 CM Vinith Venkatesh 0 1 1 38 CF Sivasakthi Narayanan 1 0 1 25 RB Namgyal Bhutia 1 0 1 8 DM Suresh Singh 1 0 1 29 CF Serto Kom 1 0 1 Own goals 1 0 1 Totals 18 6 24 Updated: 16 May 2026
Clean sheets PlayerISLSCTotal 1 1 GK Gurpreet Singh Sandhu 4 3 7 Totals 4 3 7 Updated: 16 May 2026
Disciplinary record Player ISL SC Total Points Notes 1 32 LB Roshan Singh 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 4 Misses the final league game against Chennaiyin FC. 4 CB Chinglensana Singh 2 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 4 3 10 AM Braian Sánchez 2 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 3 Red card against Kerala Blasters was revoked and converted to a yellow. 6 CM Sirojiddin Kuziev 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 3 rowspan="11" 23 DM Lalremtluanga Fanai 2 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 3 7 RW Ryan Williams 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 7 31 CM Vinith Venkatesh 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 RB Rahul Bheke 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 9 29 RW Shivaldo Singh 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 28 MF Rishi Singh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 18 RB Ricky Meetei 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 GK Gurpreet Singh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 14 MF Soham Varshneya 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 11 CF Sunil Chhetri 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Totals 23 0 0 7 0 0 30 0 0 30 Disciplinary points: yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points. Updated: 16 May 2026
See also List of Bengaluru FC seasons 2025–26 in Indian football
Notes
References