PUNE: City based Pune FC completed a transfer deadline-day after signing their fourth and final foreigner in former Salgaocar striker Mandjou Keita, a Guinean who will transfer from US Soccer League club Portland Timbers.

The 6-feet one inch tall striker played last season on loan from Portland for the Goan team Salgaocar in the I-League. After a bad start to the season for the Goans, Keita’s arrival midway through and 8 goals in the league helped the team to climb up the table and avoid relegation in the end. But he couldn’t finish the season in India as he had to return to his US League team.

Keita will become the fourth foreigner at the Pune FC club along with Brazilian forward Edmar Figueira, Japanese Midfielder Arata Izumi, and Senegalese defender Lamine Tamba. Last year PFC had five foreigners including Player of Indian origin (Arata) and Asian origin (Sergey Tokov) and all could play in one match.

But according to AIFF rules this year, teams can field only four foreigners in the matchday squads in all competitions, but only three foreigners regardless of their origin will be allowed to be on the playing field at any moment. Hence with this new restriction in place, Keita’s presence is sure to add to the options for PFC coach Derrick Pereira who will have to make the best impact with his foreign four contingent.

Tamba was another foreign signing earlier this year from disbabnded Mahindra United after Edmar and Arata were retained due to impressive performances last season. Nigerian Chika Wali, Uzbekistan’s Sergey Tokov and Dohou Sey Pierre of Ivory Coast were the last year’s foreigners to leave the club this season.

Chirag Tanna, Head operations of PFC said, “after captaining the Guinean U-23 team, Keita made his mark abroad with top Malaysian club Perak”.

Keita was with Perak for three seasons (2004-2007) scoring a total of 36 goals in 42 appearances, and was top-scorer for his club in the 2006 and 2007 seasons. In 2006 he also bagged the Malaysian Super League Golden Boot, and had helped Perak to the Malaysian Cup, according to a press release received here from Pune FC.

“Following that Keita appeared in the Singapore top-flight for Brueni DPMM scoring 11 goals in one season. His move to the US to USL Club Portland Timbers saw him make an immediate mark by bagging the league’s top-scorer award in 2009 with 11 goals,” Tanna informed.