FC GOA ARE bringing in experienced defender James Donachie on a one year loan deal from Newcastle Jets.
The signing of 27 year old Donachie, who has played 24 matches in the AFC Champions League, is going to be a crucial central figure in the Gaurs' defend when they make their debut in the top Asian club tournament.
Donachie has been an integral part of the Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory teams that for the better part of the last decade have performed well, finished among the top teams in A-League and earned a place in ACL. He played 15 matches each in Brisbane Roar's (2013-14) and Melbourne Victory's (2017-18) A-League winning campaigns, and appeared in six different seasons of ACL in the last 8 years.
His first foray into a non-Australian club came in 2018 when he signed for Jeonnam Dragons who were playing in the South Korean top tier league at that time. Months later, however, he went back to his previous club Melbourne Victory and stayed there till this year when he signed for the Jets.
The central defender's loan deal with FC Goa comes around the same time when Sandesh Jhingan, a long time target of the Gaurs, decided to sign for Mohun Bagan on a long term deal. The club will have a strong central defence duo of Spaniard Ivan Gonzalez and Donachie as they prepare for the most important season in their history.