Footballer Roy Krishna joins Indian Super League Club ATK

Fijian football star and former Wellington Phoenix, marksman Roy Krishna, has signed a one-year deal with Indian Super League Club ATK starting August 2019.

Roy Krishna earlier this year was named the Best Player in A-League, received Johnny Warren medal and the Golden Boot.

Roy went on to Twitter, making his announcement joining ATK based in Kolkata, India surprising has fans all over the world.

"140 years ago, my ancestors came to Fiji from Kolkata, India in search of better opportunities. Today marks the start of a similar journey as I join @ATKFC in the Hero India Super League to go back to where it all began," Roy Krishna tweeted.

"I'm delighted to join ATK in the Hero ISL. I have taken my time to make what I feel is the right decision for my family and me, and ATK presents a great new opportunity for me in a new league," Roy Krishna told media.

Krishna said he is delighted to join the Indian club and is looking forward to joining the club and engage with his fans and also promote Fiji there.

ATK was previously known as Atlético de Kolkata and is the first team in the Indian Super League under the license from All India Football Federation (AIFF) and plays its home games at Salt Lake Stadium.

Former Spanish defender Antonio López Habas is the coach of the team who led the team to win its inaugural season in 2014 and 2016 against the same opponent Kerala Blasters. The team is owned by Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt. Ltd. which consists of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, alongside businessmen Harshavardhan Neotia, Sanjiv Goenka and Utsav Parekh.

Roy Krishna will play in front of a comparatively bigger crowd in Kolkata that in Australasia region. ATK boasts of a record of 65,000 people with an average of 18,000 per game in the previous season and a high of 41,000 people.

Former France internationals like Robert Pires, David Trezeguet, Florent Malouda, Nicholas Anelka and Mikael Silvestre have all played in the ISL. Other big names who have featured in the league include David James (England), Wes Brown (England), Cafu (Brazil), Roberto Carlos (Brazil) and Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria).

"Roy Krishna is our first international striker signing of the season. He is a prolific striker with leadership skills under his belt. He will add attack and variety to the team, and his confidence will give an edge. I am very happy to have him at ATK," an ATK spokesperson said.