Abdul Rabeeh to join FC Goa, Sanatomba Singh and Alan Saji head to Hyderabad FC

Both moves are independent, with all three players mutually terminating existing deals

With the Supreme Court’s interim order clearing the path for planning, clubs have quietly restarted their Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 builds. FC Goa have moved first. After a 2–1 win over Al Seeb in the AFC Champions League 2 qualifiers, a result that set up a group-stage draw featuring Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, Manolo Marquez and the Goa management have kicked on with squad tweaks.

Abdul Rabeeh and Hyderabad FC have mutually ended their contract, which makes the winger a free agent. Goa have tracked him for a while and have now agreed terms; the move is expected to be sealed after medicals.

In a separate development, FC Goa have mutually terminated the contracts of two RFYC graduates, Sanatomba Singh and Alan Saji. Both are set to sign for Hyderabad FC, who are in the final stages of rebranding and relocating to Delhi, again subject to medicals.

“FC Goa needed a ready first-team winger and they have done well to land Abdul Rabeeh from Hyderabad FC as he was linked with other teams, whereas Hyderabad FC, under the new ownership of B.C Jindal, have continued to show trust in high-potential young players by landing Sanatomba Singh and Alan Saji,” a source tracking the transfers told Khel Now.

Why Rabeeh fits FC Goa?

Rabeeh’s route is familiar to followers of youth football in the south. He began at MSP Higher Secondary School, stepped into the Bengaluru FC U-16s, then moved to Kerala Blasters’ reserves, where he played I-League Second Division minutes and lifted the Kerala Premier League.

A stint at Luca SC led to his Hyderabad FC deal in 2021. For the Hyderabad first team, he made 72 appearances with one goal and four assists. The Malappuram winger now reunites with Manolo in Goa, aiming to add punch on the flank and a cleaner final ball.

Why does Hyderabad want Sanatomba and Alan?

Sanatomba arrives at Hyderabad as an RFYC standout at left back. He was part of the RFYC side that won the Sub-Junior I-League in 2018–19 and finished runners-up in the MFA Super Division in 2022–23. Across 42 academy matches, he logged 2,824 minutes with four assists and 18 clean sheets.

After signing for Goa before 2024–25, the Manipur full-back made two senior appearances, stayed in the Super Cup and ACL 2 preliminary squads, and earned an India U-23 camp call for the current AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers. The move to Hyderabad should hand him a clearer path to minutes.

Alan, also 19, joined RFYC at 12 and featured in multiple national and international age-group tournaments. He made two first-team appearances for FC Goa last season and can play across the front three. He, too, was named in the India U-23 camp for the qualifiers, though he didn’t make the final list. In Hyderabad, he links up with his elder brother Alex Saji, who captained the side last season, and chases the regular football that accelerates development.

The deals, at a glance

For Goa, Rabeeh is a plug-and-play domestic winger who knows the coach and the league. For Hyderabad, flipping a player with a year left on his deal into two high-ceiling prospects fits the new ownership’s brief. Three fresh starts, two squads that look a little more balanced — and, once the medicals are done, announcements to follow.

• Abdul Rabeeh → FC Goa: Hyderabad FC and Rabeeh have mutually terminated his contract. He will join Goa as a free agent, pending medicals.
• Sanatomba Singh & Alan Saji → Hyderabad FC: FC Goa have mutually terminated both youngsters’ contracts. Hyderabad FC, in the final stages of rebranding and relocating to Delhi, have agreed terms with the duo, subject to medicals.

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