In a historic development for Indian football, 25-year-old winger Rahul KP (left) has been selected to represent English Premier League (EPL) club West Ham United in the upcoming edition of The Soccer Tournament (TST) in the United States.
This marks the first time an Indian player will feature for an EPL club in an international seven-a-side football tournament, reported Sportstar.
The announcement was made by West Ham United on May 23, with the club sharing a welcome video featuring Rahul.
“Hello, Hammers fans, it’s Rahul KP here. I’m excited to play for West Ham United at TST this summer. See you soon. Come on you Irons,” said the Kerala-born footballer, visibly thrilled by the opportunity.
While Rahul isn’t joining West Ham’s main Premier League squad, his selection for TST 2025 places him on an international platform alongside clubs like Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, AFC Bournemouth and Villarreal.
The tournament will be held in Cary, North Carolina, and features a winner-takes-all US$1 million prize.
The men’s competition will include 48 teams, while 16 teams will participate in the women’s edition.
Rahul hails from Thrissur, Kerala, and currently plays as a winger for Odisha FC in the Indian Super League (ISL), reported First Post.
Before his move in January this year, he was a mainstay at Kerala Blasters, his home state club, where he played for over five seasons and helped the team finish runners-up in the 2021-22 ISL Cup.
He first caught the public’s eye during the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he represented India in the nation’s maiden appearance in a FIFA tournament at any level.
His senior national team debut came in 2022, and he has since earned seven international caps for the Blue Tigers.
Before rising through the ranks of ISL, Rahul began his professional journey with Indian Arrows in the I-League, India’s former top-flight football league.
Rahul’s inclusion in West Ham’s TST marks a significant milestone for Indian footballers, underscoring the growing recognition of Indian talent on international stages.
The exposure to top-tier global clubs and players offers not just visibility but also valuable experience for Rahul – and potentially paves the way for more Indian players to follow suit.
