Why is Persib Called a Miniature of the Indonesian National Team?
Persib Bandung can rightly be referred to as a miniature of Indonesia with the presence of Eliano Reijnders and Thom Haye. They complement a number of national team stars who were already present.
02 Sep 2025 13:00 WIB · English
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What can you learn from this article?
- Why can Eliano Reijnders' presence complete Persib's international squad?
- What are the pros and cons of Thom Haye's presence at Persib?
- Why could Thom Haye's move to Persib reduce Indonesia's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup?
- Who is Federico Barba, Persib's new foreign player?
Persib Bandung, the defending champion of the Indonesian League, is increasingly infused with the atmosphere of the Indonesian national football team following the arrival of Eliano Reijnders. The 24-year-old player of Dutch descent was officially introduced as a new player for the "Maung Bandung" team on Monday (1/9/2025).
Eliano follows in the footsteps of his senior, Thom Haye (30), who joined Persib last week. With the presence of these two naturalized players who previously had careers in the Dutch League, Persib is now increasingly infused with the atmosphere of the "Garuda" team.
Thom, a midfielder nicknamed "the professor," is one of the key players in the Indonesian national team. The player, who is adept at reading the game, has been trusted to orchestrate the attacks for the Garuda team since the era of Coach Shin Tae-yong. He has played a total of 14 times for the Indonesian national team since being sworn in as a citizen in 2024.
Thom even once held the title of the most expensive player in the Indonesian national team while still playing for the Dutch club, Heerenveen, in 2024. His market value at that time reached IDR 52 billion. Therefore, Persib was fortunate to recruit him for free from his previous club, Almere City. He was released by Almere on a free transfer.
Unlike Thom, Persib had to spend money to bring Eliano to the Indonesian Super League. Persib did not disclose the transfer fee from the Dutch club, PEC Zwolle. However, according to Transfermarkt, his market value reaches 600,000 euros or equivalent to IDR 11.3 billion. He is contracted to Maung Bandung for two years.
Although his role in the Garuda team is not as prominent as Thom's, Eliano has his own advantages. The player, who has only appeared three times representing the Indonesian national team, is considered a versatile player. He can play in several different positions, ranging from wing-back, winger, to midfielder. However, at Persib, he is positioned to play as a right-back.
In addition to Eliano and Thom, Persib also has several players who regularly compete for the national team or the Indonesia U-23 team. They are Beckham Putra, Marc Klok, Robi Darwis, and Kakang Rudianto.
In addition to them, Persib is also reinforced by several other players who have previously represented the national team, namely Saddil Ramdani, Alfeandra Dewangga, and Adam Alis. Therefore, it is not surprising that Persib, coached by Bojan Hodak, is referred to as a "miniature" of the Indonesian national team.
The presence of the new players will certainly enhance the popularity of Persib, and vice versa. The popularity of Thom and Eliano, the younger brother of Tijjani Reijnders (a Manchester City player), is also expected to rise given the large number of Persib fans.
The arrival of new players, particularly Thom, could also enhance Persib's game. The team, currently undergoing a squad rejuvenation process, aims to become the first team in the Indonesian League to win a hat trick, or three consecutive titles. No other team in the modern era has achieved this feat.
The presence of players with extensive international experience is also expected to elevate Persib's achievements on the Asian stage. Last season, they struggled in the AFC Champions League Two, the second tier of Asian club competitions. At that time, they finished fourth in the group stage, placing below representatives from Singapore, Thailand, and China.
However, on the other hand, the exodus of Thom and Eliano from Europe is feared to diminish the quality of the Garuda team. The reason is that the competitiveness of the Indonesian Super League is still far behind that of other countries. The quality of this national pride football league ranks only 24th in Asia, and even seventh in Southeast Asia.
Why can Eliano Reijnders' presence complete Persib's international squad?
Eliano Reijnders is the next sensation from Persib's recruitment this season. The naturalized player from the Netherlands plays as a right-back, which is currently Persib's weakest point. The Indonesian national team player will be with Persib for two years.
Deputy CEO of Persib Bandung, Adhitia Putra Herawan, on Monday (1/9/2025), stated that Eliano's experience and age will be very beneficial for Persib. He is confident that the player, who was directly chosen by Coach Bojan Hodak, will help Persib achieve success again in domestic competitions.
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The younger brother of Manchester City player, Tijani Reijnders, will also boost Persib's confidence to advance further in the Asian arena this season. This season, Persib is once again representing Indonesia in the AFC Champions League Two.
Eliano previously joined PEC Zwolle, a team from the Netherlands, since 2018. He was loaned to Jong Utrecht before moving to Persib. He will later join other former Dutch league players, such as Thom Haye and Marc Klok.
In addition to Reijnders, Persib has also strengthened its attacking power by bringing in French striker, Andrew Jung. Under a two-year contract, Jung last played in the Greek Super League with OFI Crete.
With the arrival of Eliano and Jung, Persib now has internationally experienced players in all positions. The value of this defending champion of the Indonesian League has become the highest in the league. According to Transfermarkt, the market value of the Persib Bandung squad reaches IDR 128.36 billion.
What are the pros and cons of Thom Haye's presence at Persib?
The midfielder of the Indonesian national team, Thom Haye, has officially joined Persib Bandung. This news has elicited both positive and negative responses from football fans in the country.
The news of this recruitment was announced by Persib on Wednesday (27/8/2025) afternoon. Thom, a player born in Amsterdam on February 9, 1995, will join Persib in navigating the BRI Super League and the Asian Champions League for the 2025-2026 season.
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Previously, Thom defended Almere City in the second tier of the Dutch League (Eerste Divisie) during the 2024-2025 competition season. However, the club did not extend Haye's contract for this season.
At Persib, for the next two years, this naturalized defensive midfielder will strengthen the midfield. The team nicknamed "Maung Bandung" is indeed in the process of restructuring its squad after becoming champions for two consecutive times.
The Deputy CEO of PT Persib Bandung Bermartabat, Adhitia Putra Herawan, stated that the recruitment of Thom is a strategic move by the club to maintain balance in the squad's midfield. Thom's presence complements the strength of Persib's midfield.
Some circles claim that Haye will help Persib achieve their third consecutive title. Haye will also improve Persib's performance when competing in Asia.
However, some parties believe that Haye's decision to join Persib is a loss for the Indonesian national team. Haye's ability is doubted to develop, even to decline, if he only competes in the Indonesian League.
Why could Thom Haye's move to Persib reduce Indonesia's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup?
Thom Haye's decision to "return to his homeland" has raised concerns about the weakening of the midfield strength of the "Garuda" squad in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
From a personal needs perspective, Thom, who is 30 years old, is entitled to embark on a new chapter in his professional career. Moving to Indonesia to play close to his extended family in Jakarta is a reasonable decision.
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Despite playing for Persib, the defending champion of the Indonesian Super League, Thom has experienced a significant decline in his career. From playing in the Eredivisie, the highest tier of Dutch football, Thom will now compete in the 24th ranked competition in Asia and the seventh position in Southeast Asia.
If he still prioritizes improving his performance on the green field, Thom should choose to pursue a career in competitions in East Asia, such as Japan or South Korea. If he is no longer "marketable" in Europe and East Asia, at the very least he could opt for Thailand, which has a level of competition above that of Indonesia. The Thai league ranks seventh in Asia.
In fact, several rumors regarding the interest of European clubs had overshadowed Thom. NAC Breda, for instance, expressed interest in the former Almere City player. Moreover, the Transfermarkt website also mentioned that Watford in the English League was interested in utilizing Thom's services.
The competition and quality in the Super League, which are not as good as in the Dutch League, may also lower Thom's level of play. The "Blue Prince" team will indeed compete in the Asian Champions League Two. However, this still does not compare to the quality of competition in Europe.
"I'm very excited to join Persib Bandung. Can't wait to play in front of you (bobotoh). Come on, achieve more glory," said Thom in his introduction video broadcast by TVRI Jabar.
Who is Federico Barba, Persib's new foreign player?
Italian player Federico Barba has transformed Persib into a star-studded team in the 2025-2026 BRI Super League Indonesia. Barba's experience in Europe is expected to enhance Persib's achievements as well as the quality of the Indonesian League.
After bringing in the national team's defensive midfielder, Thom Haye, Barba was officially announced by Persib on Wednesday (27/8/2025). Barba, who is contracted for only one year, becomes the second Italian player for Persib after Stefano Beltrame, who led Persib to victory in the 2023-2024 competition season.
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Barba, a player born in Rome on September 1, 1993, joined as a free transfer. His contract with the Swiss club, FC Sion, expires in July 2025. The Deputy CEO of PT Persib Bandung Bermartabat, Adhitia Putra Herawan, stated that Barba is the answer to Coach Bojan Hodak's need to strengthen the defense. Not only is he strong, but Hodak also wants a defense that can employ various tactics.
Federico Barba has a long track record in various top European competitions. The graduate of the AS Roma academy has played for several Serie A clubs in Italy, such as Empoli, Chievo Verona, and Como. He is also noted for having represented the Italy U-21 team twice.
Not only in Italy, he is recorded to have played in the German Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart. Barba also explored La Liga in Spain with Sporting Gijón and Real Valladolid.
"Barba is a player with the character and experience that matches the team's needs. We are confident that he can adapt quickly and become an important part of Persib's journey this season," said Adhitia.
Credits
Writer:
Yulvianus HarjonoEditor:
Wisnu Aji DewabrataLanguage Editor:
Amin Iskandar