Pune FC sign midfielder Paite on loan from East Bengal

"I am happy to be here and I am looking forward to playing for Pune FC. It makes me proud to have joined such a big club like Pune Football Club," Paite was quoted saying in a media release issued by the club.

Paite becomes Pune FC coach Derrick Pereira's first on-loan signing for the season.

"We are delighted to welcome Paite to Pune FC. He has a lot of experience and we are fortunate to have him marshal the left-wing. We were looking for an out-and-out left-footed winger for the season and Paite fits the bill," said Pereira.

The Manipur-born player is the product of the renowned Tata Football Academy from where he graduated in 2006. He was also part of the TFA team that won the 2nd Division that year, but didn't take promotion.

Paite, thereafter, moved on to Churchill Brothers, where he plied his trade in the Goa Football League. In 2009, he was elevated to the first team and was used mainly as a second half substitute.

At Churchill, he spent five years from 2006-11 and was a key member of the squad that won the I-League. The nippy left-footed left-winger came into the spotlight after scoring against Mohammedan Sporting in I-League 2008-09, which eventually helped Churchill Brothers win the title.

From Goa, he moved to Kolkata and spent 2011-12 after East Bengal snapped him. During the season, he featured in 12 I-League and three AFC Cup games, apart from scoring the match-winner against Prayag United SC and hand his club a berth in the semifinals.