Kerala Blasters have signed teen goalkeeper Som Kumar on a four-year contract until 2028. The 19-year-old from Bengaluru had stints at Boca Juniors Academy and BYFL Academy.
Som’s European adventure started in 2020 with NK Bravo in Slovenia. His next move was a loan spell at Slovenian club NK Krka where he helped the U-17 team secure a third place in the league. His consistent performances earned him spots in both NK Bravo and NK Krka’s U-19 teams, eventually leading to his contract with Slovenian first-division side NK Olimpija Ljubljana in February, 2023.
Som's young international career has been equally impressive. A former member of India’s U-16 and U-17 teams, he made significant contributions during the India U-16 team’s tour of the UAE in 2021. He then played a crucial role in the India U-20 team's success at the 2022 SAFF U-20 Championship in Odisha, where his performance in the semifinal against the Maldives and the final against Bangladesh earned him the Best Goalkeeper award.
In 2023, Som was part of the squad for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers in Kuwait and later contributed to India’s victorious campaign at the 2023 SAFF U-19 Championship in Kathmandu.
