History-making Bala Devi becomes first-ever Indian women’s footballer to earn pro contract overseas after signing for Scottish side Rangers
- Devi joins the Glasgow outfit from Manipur Police Sports Club on an 18-month deal after impressing on a trial
- The 30-year-old is India’s top national goalscorer and will wear the coveted number 10 jersey
As a child, a football-hungry Ngangom Bala Devi often found herself playing kick-about among the local boys in her village of Irengbam, in India’s Manipur state. Little did she know that she would become the first-ever Indian women’s footballer to sign a professional overseas contract.
Devi, who turned 30 on Sunday, made history after joining Scottish Women’s Premier League team Rangers FC following a successful week-long trial in Glasgow. She joins from Manipur Police Sports Club on an 18-month deal and will wear the number 10 jersey.
“I’m very excited to sign for two seasons and to be given the number 10. All I want to do is go out there, work hard and make India proud,” said Devi, a veteran striker and captain for the India national team.
“I had confidence that I’d do well [in the trials]. I have represented India for 14 years – and my state for 17. I have also played in Europe twice before. I felt that perhaps given my experience I stood a chance.”
Rangers were surely enticed by Devi’s outrageous goalscoring portfolio for club and country. To date, she has scored a record 52 goals in 58 games for India and remains the Indian Women’s League top-scorer with 38 goals. She was named the All India Football Federation’s women’s player of the year in 2015 and 2016 before having successful stints in the Maldives and Spain.
