Jakarta. Marselino Ferdinan, one of Indonesia’s most promising young footballers, has officially signed with Oxford United, a club competing in the Sky Bet Championship.

The club, owned by Indonesia’s State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, welcomed the 19-year-old forward with a message on their official website on Monday, saying, “Welcome to Oxford.”

Marselino arrives at Oxford boasting 26 international caps and three goals for Indonesia. He played a crucial role in helping the Indonesian Under-22 team win the Southeast Asian Games last year, a historic achievement as it was their first title in 32 years.

Marselino holds the record as the youngest goalscorer for Indonesia at the international level and recently became the youngest player to score in the Asian Cup finals round.

In addition to his international achievements, Marselino was instrumental in the Indonesian U-23 team’s journey to the semifinals of the 2024 AFC U-23 Championship. His performance also led Indonesia to the Olympic play-offs against Guinea in Paris last May.

Before joining Oxford United, Marselino began his club career in Indonesia and spent the last season with Deinze in Belgium.

Marselino’s move to Oxford marks a significant milestone as he could become the first Indonesian-born player to feature in the Sky Bet Championship if selected by the U’s this season.

Expressing his excitement about the move, Marselino said, “I'm thrilled and still can't believe I'm here. Being the first Indonesian-born player to play in the Championship if selected fills me with immense pride. I won’t take this opportunity for granted, and I'll give 100% to make the most of it. My message to everyone is to keep supporting the team and know that I’ll do my best to compete and represent this club.”

Oxford United’s Head Coach, Des Buckingham, shared his thoughts on the new signing: “Marselino is an exciting player. The reports from Asia show that he is one of the best young players coming through, so it’s an opportunity to have him here and be a part of what we do. He’s a very exciting attacking player, and I’m eager to see how he progresses.”

Ed Waldron, Head of Football Operations at Oxford United, added, “While unproven at this level, it is clear that Marselino is extremely talented with good international experience, and it will be exciting to see how he adapts to life at Oxford United.”

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