Speculation over the potential transfers of Maarten Paes and Joey Pelupessy to Persib Bandung continues to gather momentum, becoming a major talking point on social media on December 25. The two naturalized Indonesian national team players are widely believed to have reached an agreement and are reportedly just one step away from officially joining Maung Bandung.
In recent weeks, both Paes and Pelupessy have been consistently linked with Persib, further intensifying the transfer buzz surrounding the club.
The rumors have generated significant excitement among Persib supporters, despite the absence of any official confirmation from the club’s management regarding their validity.
From a contractual perspective, Maarten Paes remains tied to FC Dallas until December 2026, while Joey Pelupessy is still under contract with Lommel SK, with his deal set to expire in June 2026.
These situations have placed the potential moves of both players firmly under the spotlight, particularly as the opening of the player registration window draws closer.
Amid the mounting speculation, Indonesian Super League operator ILeague has also responded positively to the prospect of Indonesian national team players currently based overseas returning to the domestic competition.
ILeague Director of Operations Asep Saputra noted that if the rumors were to materialize, the overall quality and commercial appeal of the Super League would increase significantly.
“From ILeague’s standpoint, once the player registration period opens on January 10, decisions ultimately rest with each club. However, if these players do arrive, the value of the competition would clearly rise,” Asep said, as quoted from iNews.
For now, Indonesian football fans continue to await clarity on Persib Bandung’s next move. Should Maarten Paes and Joey Pelupessy complete their switches to Bandung, the Super League is expected to become even more competitive and draw greater attention both domestically and internationally. The potential signings also align with the broader narrative of Persib positioning themselves as Indonesia’s answer to regional powerhouses such as Buriram United, Johor Darul Ta’zim, or Lion City Sailors—dominant clubs built around the best talent a country has to offer and driven by clear continental ambitions. This vision has already begun to take shape this season with the successful acquisitions of players like Thom Haye and Eliano Reijnders.