Shocking statistics of Indonesian football, 37 players play abroad

Indonesian football has set a historic record by recording for the first time 37 players playing abroad, including the majority of naturalized players and some local players in Southeast Asian clubs.

Exporting a lot, the paradox is that Indonesian football is still full of foreign players

According to CNN Indonesia, of the 37 Indonesian players playing abroad in the 2025-2026 season, 22 are playing for clubs in Europe. Of these, the Dutch National Championship accounts for the most, up to 10 people.

Thanks to the massive naturalization policy, Indonesian football now has a large number of players playing abroad.

Photo: Reuters

These are also the majority of naturalized players in this country's football, except for the most famous native player today, striker Marselino Ferdinan (20 years old), who is playing for Oxford United in the English First Division. This club also has a naturalized Indonesian player, Dutch striker Ole Romeny.

In particular, there are 2 players playing in the US and Brazil, respectively the number 1 goalkeeper Maarten Paes of FC Dallas in the MLS and the 18-year-old player Welber Jardim who is playing for the Sao Paulo youth team.

In Southeast Asia, most notably in the Thai League 1 (Thailand), there are currently no less than 3 Indonesian players participating in the competition, including defender Asnawi Mangkualam (Port FC), Shayne Pattynama (Buriram United) and Pratama Arhan (Bangkok United). In addition, there are also a number of players playing in the Malaysian, Singaporean, Cambodian and even Japanese national championships, such as the naturalized Belgian defender Sandy Walsh (Yokohama F. Marinos)...

Among Indonesian players playing abroad, naturalized player Jay Idzes, who is also the captain of the national team, has just transferred from Venezia Club to Sassuolo in Serie A (Italy), becoming the player with the most expensive transfer fee of up to 8 million euros (about 244 billion VND) plus 500,000 euros in additional fees (about 15 billion VND). In Italy, there is also a naturalized Indonesian player playing, goalkeeper Emil Audero, who is playing for Cremonese Club, also in Serie A.

"With a large number of players playing abroad, there are still some Indonesian players who have become indispensable pillars in their clubs, most notably defender Mees Hilgers, who has made 132 appearances in all competitions, including European tournaments, for FC Twente," CNN Indonesia emphasized. Thereby, it is believed that the naturalization policy of Indonesian football players has also opened up a new opportunity for the development of this country's football.

Jay Idzes (right), also the captain of the Indonesian team, is the player with the most expensive transfer fee today.

Photo: Reuters

However, the Indonesian National Championship is currently also welcoming a wave of foreign players, with statistics in the 2025-2026 season showing that there are more than 60 players from Brazil. Of which, 4 clubs in the Super League of this country signed contracts with each team up to 10 foreign players, out of a total of 11 players allowed to sign contracts. In addition, there are up to 6 other clubs recruiting up to 9 foreign players each.

Most of these foreign players dominate the starting lineup, making it almost impossible for Indonesian players to have an advantage at home. A shocking example is Arema FC, which in its opening match on August 11, fielded a starting lineup with 6 Brazilians, 1 Argentinian and only 4 Indonesians.

The difference between the majority of naturalized Indonesian players playing abroad, while in the domestic league, local players are almost completely dominated by foreign players, has caused a gap in Indonesian football and has caused a lot of concern.

However, according to CNN Indonesia, to catch up with this trend, local Indonesian players need to upgrade themselves to keep up with foreign players and take their place in the club. Thereby, also paving the way for them to join the national team. Player Marselino Ferdinan is an example for domestic Indonesian players to follow.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thong-ke-gay-soc-cua-bong-da-indonesia-37-cau-thu-thi-dau-o-nuoc-ngoai-185250812092024285.htm