Nikhil Barla (born 5 August 2003) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Indian Super League club NorthEast United and the India national team.

Club career Barla joined the Tata Football Academy in 2018, where he remained until joining Jamshedpur in 2021. He began his professional career with Jamshedpur in 2021. In the 2020–21 season, he played three matches at the 2021 Durand Cup.

In the following season, he did not play for the senior team, instead playing at the 2022 Development League for the youth team. In a match against Bengaluru he scored a goal, his first in his career. Since the 2022–23 season, he became an important part of the Jamshedpur senior team, having played in almost every matches in the ISL.

International career In May 2025, India under-23 head coach Naushad Moosa listed Barla in the 29-members probable squad for two friendlies that will be held in Tajikistan in June 2025.

Career statistics Club

ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalJamshedpur BRFDL71–––71Jamshedpur2021–22Indian Super League00–30–302022–23Indian Super League10–30–402023–24Indian Super League19020––2102024–25Indian Super League2213020–271Total421508000551 Total492508000622

International

National teamYearAppsGoalsIndia202630Total30

References

External links

Nikhil Barla at AIFF Nikhil Barla at ISL