Mumbai, August 15: Tata Steel has agreed to transfer its equity shares in Jamshedpur FC, the Indian Super League (ISL) club, to Goa’s Churchill Brothers Football Club for a nominal fee.
This move ensures that the players and coaching staff of Jamshedpur FC can continue their work.
As per the rules set by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the transaction will also include the transfer of the club’s ISL sporting license, 12 players, and two coaches to Churchill Brothers.
In a statement, Tata Steel announced, “Tata Steel Limited and Churchill Brothers Football Club have signed an agreement today. Starting September 2026, Churchill Brothers will take over all contracts for Jamshedpur FC players and coaching staff, allowing them to continue their professional football careers in the ISL. Churchill Brothers has a rich football history in Goa, including two I-League titles and a strong record in Indian domestic football.”
This transfer marks the end of Tata Steel’s direct ownership of Jamshedpur FC, which has been a significant part of the company’s sporting ecosystem in Jharkhand.
D.B. Sundara Ramam, Vice President of Corporate Services at Tata Steel, stated, “Churchill Brothers is a club with a true legacy in Indian football, and we are pleased that this agreement allows our players and coaches to continue playing club football. We thank AIFF and Churchill Brothers for their partnership in facilitating this transition smoothly.”
The company emphasized its commitment to grassroots and youth football, focusing on identifying and nurturing young talent, particularly among local and tribal communities. The Tata Football Academy, established in 1987 in Jamshedpur, has trained over 300 cadets, with 150 representing the Indian national team. Most players in Jharkhand’s under-14 and under-16 teams have come from Tata Steel Foundation’s football training centers, which work with tribal communities.
Ramam added, “We will maintain and enhance our sports infrastructure, repurposing it for grassroots football and athlete development. We will collaborate with AIFF to modernize our youth system, invest in it, and further enhance its potential.”