Indian forward Jyoti Chouhan has joined the East Bengal Women FC ahead of the AFC League, signing a deal until the 2025–26 season, and taking the number 99 jersey.
Her addition comes after East Bengal’s Indian Women’s League 2024–25 win, which secured their continental berth. According to Cricketnmore, the club sees her signing as a major boost to their attack for the upcoming AFC Women’s Champions League.
Who is Jyoti Chouhan?
Jyoti is an Indian footballer born on July 6, 1999, in Sardarpur, Madhya Pradesh. She began with modest roots and advanced through the local tournaments to be one of the most promising women players in India.
She represented Gokulam Kerala FC, becoming the champions of the Indian Women League (IWL), and then joining ŽNK Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia in 2022.
There Jyoti made history as the first Indian woman to score a hat trick in a European top flight match and also scored in the Croatian Women’s Cup final.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝘁-𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯 ✅
𝗜𝗪𝗟 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻 🏆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗸𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗞𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗮 ✅
𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐮𝐩 🏆𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨 𝐙𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐛… pic.twitter.com/e0gdy7sIuR— East Bengal FC (@eastbengal_fc) November 5, 2025
At Dinamo Zagreb, she made 25 appearances and scored 18 goals, showing her sharp finishing ability. She has also earned 7 international caps for India and scored a goal.
Jyoti will now flaunt the no. 99 jersey for Bengal ahead of the AFC Women’s Champions League. She began her journey by leaving her hometown in pursuit of better learning ground.
Then, travelling to Europe, and later returning home with strength and determination to play women’s football in India. And so far, it has worked out for her.
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What does this move mean for Jyoti and East Bengal ?
For Jyoti, this signing opens a new layer of opportunities. A chance to utilize her playing experience from Europe to Indian football, for East Bengal it’s a big advantage gaining a proven goal scorer with international exposure. Thus, a win-win for both.
After signing Jyoti said “Joining this team is a dream come true. I am eager to contribute.”
And now with the backing of her teammates, she is ready to make her next big jump into the AFC Women’s Champions League in full swing.
Amit Mishra’s Take
This signing feels like more than just another transfer. It shows how far Indian women’s football has come in recent years. A team that plays in the AFC Women’s Champions League recruits a player with international exposure is a sign of ambition, development, and the belief in local talent.
The story of Jyoti is really motivating, from a small town and then to the European stage and finally to the AFC Women’s Champions League, and is an inspiration to many young future players.
Her signing is part of a movement that is gradually transforming the face of Indian Women’s sports.
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