Nineteen-year-old Marselino Ferdinan has officially signed with Oxford United, marking a significant milestone in his young football career. The Indonesian international arrives in Oxford with an impressive record of 26 caps and three goals for the national team. Last year, he played a pivotal role in helping the Indonesia U-22 squad secure their first SEA Games gold medal in 32 years.
Marselino’s name is already etched in the history books as Indonesia’s youngest-ever goalscorer, and this year, he set another record by becoming the youngest player to score in the AFC Asian Cup finals. His contributions have been crucial for the Indonesia U-23 team, who reached the semifinals of the 2024 AFC U-23 Championship and earned a spot in the Olympic playoff against Guinea in Paris last May.
Having begun his career in Indonesia, Marselino spent last season with Deinze in Belgium, gaining valuable experience in European football. Now, as one of Asia’s most promising young talents, he is set to become the first Indonesian-born player to feature in the Sky Bet Championship if selected by Oxford United this season.
Speaking about his transfer, Marselino expressed his excitement and disbelief at joining Oxford United. He is immensely proud to be one of the few Indonesian players competing in England.
“I won’t take this opportunity for granted, and I will give 100% to make the most of it. My message to everyone is to keep supporting Oxford United, and know that I will do my best to compete and represent this club,” Marselino said.
Oxford United’s Head Coach, Des Buckingham, praised Marselino, calling him a standout player with immense potential.
“There has been a lot of talk in Asia about Marselino being one of the best emerging young talents, so it’s a great opportunity to have him as part of what we’re doing. He’s a very exciting attacking player, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how he develops,” Buckingham said.
Ed Waldron, Head of Football Operations at Oxford United, added that Marselino is a highly promising young player, and the club is eager to see how he progresses within the team.
“The club has a strong connection with Indonesia, and we are well aware of Marselino’s abilities. While he is unproven at this level, it’s clear that he has a lot of talent and good international experience. It will be interesting to see how he adapts to life at Oxford United,” Waldron remarked.
“We have a good environment at the Training Centre, and we believe this is the perfect opportunity for Marselino to test his skills and grow alongside the experience we have here,” Waldron concluded.
Marselino Ferdinan’s move to Oxford United comes after a period of uncertainty following his release from KMSK Deinze in Belgium on January 31. After months of searching for the right club, the young Indonesian talent has found a new home at Oxford United.
The club, owned by Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir and Anindya Bakrie, has recently been promoted from League One and is now preparing to compete at a higher level in the Championship, just one tier below the Premier League.
At just 19 years old and standing 178 cm tall, Marselino Ferdinan has a market value of approximately IDR 5.21 billion in the transfer market. His signing with a club as prominent as Oxford United is a remarkable achievement, especially for those who doubted his ability to secure a spot at such a high level.
This Saturday, Oxford United will face Blackburn Rovers, and there’s a strong possibility that Marselino could make his debut in the match.
With his move to a European club, Marselino Ferdinan can now focus and feel more at ease as he prepares for the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asian zone with the Indonesian National Team.