Paul has been offered a contract for the period from January 1 to June 30 next year by Danish Superliga side FC Vestsjaelland, also known as FC Vikings, after a three-week trial stint with the club recently.
Paul said that he would now seek a release on loan from IMG-Reliance with which he has a two-year contract for the proposed Indian Super league. “I had gone for a three-week trial at FC Vestsjaelland from October 20 onward and I was offered a six-month contract by the club before I left Denmark. The head coach and goalkeeping coach told me they liked my performance,” Paul said from Kolkata.
“My dream to play in a top European club has come true and I am going to sign the contract in a few days. I will now approach IMG-Reliance to release me on loan to join FC Vestsjaelland. I think it will be just a formality,” said 26-year-old Paul who has earned 67 India caps.
Paul will become the first Indian footballer to join a top tier side in Europe. Before him, former captain Bhaichung Bhutia had played for English Championship (second tier) side FC Bury from 1999-2002 before current national team skipper Sunil Chhetri joined the reserved team of Sporting lisbon Club of Portugal last year before ending his contract this year.
Paul, who was called ‘Indian Spiderman’ by South Korean media during 2011 Asian Cup in Doha for his impressive show, hoped that the Denmark opportunity would open up further chances to ply his trade in other European clubs.
“I want to do well at FC Vestsjaelland so that I can aim to join top tier clubs like FC Red Bull Salzburg (Austrian Bundesliga) and New York Red Bulls (Major league Soccer),” he said.