East Bengal rope in Costa Rican World Cupper Johnny Acosta Zamora

The Costa Rican defender will join the Red and Gold brigade from August...

have agreed terms with Costa Rican international Johnny Acosta Zamora. The 34-year-old defender will don the Red and Gold jersey in the upcoming domestic season.

Acosta was a regular starter for in the ongoing World Cup in and featured in all three group stage matches.

The 34-year-old defender has 69 international caps to his name and has scored two goals. He is considered to be a no-nonsense defender who likes to clear his lines as quickly as possible. He was involved in eight clearances and recovered the ball 11 times during the three World Cup matches.

East Bengal will hope that his experience and big-game nous stand them in good stead in the coming season.

"EastBengal FC is one of the greatest clubs in . I convey my best to my new club. My aim is to encourage the other Indian footballers and guide them and at the same time win silverware for Quess EastBengal FC," said Acosta after penning the contract.

He made his professional debut for Costa Rican club Santos de Guápiles in the 2004/05 season and left them in 2010 for Alajuelense with whom he won three league titles. His first appearance for Costa Rica was in March 2011 in a friendly match against . On 6 September 2013, he scored his first goal for Los Ticos in a 3–1 win over the USA in a World Cup qualifying match.