The 31-year-old Amavubi left-back arrives in India after two seasons with Cypriot top-flight club AEL Limassol, where he made 33 league appearances across the 2024-25 and 2025-26 campaigns. His experience and ability to operate in multiple defensive positions are expected to add further depth to Chennaiyin’s backline.
Primarily a left-back, Imanishimwe can also play as a left-sided centre-back or wing-back. That versatility could give Chennaiyin head coach Clifford Miranda greater tactical flexibility, particularly when switching between defensive systems during matches.
Imanishimwe, or ‘Mangwende’ as he is popularly known, began his senior career with Rayon Sports during the 2014-15 season before moving to APR FC in 2016. He went on to spend five seasons with APR, establishing himself as one of Rwanda’s prominent defenders while winning four Rwandan Premier League titles and a Peace Cup.
His performances also earned him opportunities in African continental competitions, including the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. In 2021, he took the next step in his career by joining Moroccan club AS FAR Rabat.
The move proved successful, with Imanishimwe making more than 70 appearances across competitions during his three-season spell. He featured 24 times in the league during the 2022-23 campaign as AS FAR won the Botola Pro title with 67 points, ending a 15-year wait for the Moroccan championship. He also contributed three assists that season.
Imanishimwe moved to Europe in July 2024, joining AEL Limassol. During the 2025-26 season, he made 20 league appearances and played 1,622 minutes, maintaining a regular role in the Cypriot side’s defensive setup.
His move to India now represents another chapter in a career spanning three different footballing environments.
For Chennaiyin, the Rwandan international offers more than defensive cover. His experience of playing in four-man and three-man defensive systems could allow Miranda to deploy him according to the demands of different opponents.
With foreign-player slots an important consideration in ISL squad building, Imanishimwe’s ability to cover multiple positions could make his addition particularly valuable as Chennaiyin prepare for the new campaign.
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