Maarten Paes Bio
Maarten Vincent Paes is a professional footballer from the Netherlands who plays as a goalkeeper. Born on May 14, 1998, in Nijmegen, he began his youth career at VV Union before moving to NEC. Over the years, he has played for several clubs, including NEC, Jong Utrecht, FC Dallas, and most recently Persib Bandung. Paes represents the Indonesia national team at the international level, having obtained Indonesian citizenship through his maternal grandmother.
Standing 191 centimeters tall, Paes has earned attention for his shot-stopping ability and composure under pressure. He made headlines during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where his performances for Indonesia positioned him as a key figure between the posts.
Early Life and Background
Maarten Vincent Paes was born on 14 May 1998 in Nijmegen, a city in the eastern Netherlands known for its strong footballing tradition. He was raised in the country and developed an early interest in the sport, joining the local youth club VV Union as a young boy. His physical attributes and reflexes soon became apparent, encouraging his development as a goalkeeper rather than an outfield player.
From VV Union, Paes moved into the academy of NEC, a professional club based in Nijmegen. This transition gave him access to higher-level coaching and competitive fixtures, allowing him to refine his game against strong opposition. His time in the NEC academy laid the foundation for his eventual entry into professional football.
Path to Professional Soccer
Paes began his senior career at NEC, where in the 2017–18 season he served as a backup goalkeeper behind Joris Delle. Although his minutes were limited, the experience of training alongside senior professionals prepared him for the next step in his development. In 2018, he joined FC Utrecht, where he initially featured for Jong FC Utrecht in the reserve side.
His progression at Utrecht was gradual but encouraging. By the start of the 2019/20 season, Paes surprisingly became FC Utrecht’s first-choice goalkeeper, marking a significant milestone in his career. A shoulder blade injury later that season disrupted his momentum, requiring around six months of recuperation, but he continued to develop his craft within a competitive Eredivisie environment.
Maarten Paes Career
Early Career at NEC and Utrecht (2016–2021)
Paes made his professional debut for FC Utrecht on 19 August 2018, starting in a 2-0 home victory against PEC Zwolle. He was given the opportunity due to an illness to David Jensen and an injury to Nick Marsman. That appearance was his only first-team match of the 2018/19 season, though he featured regularly for Jong FC Utrecht during the campaign.
Across the following seasons, Paes experienced a turbulent spell at Utrecht. He started the 2019/20 season as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper before a shoulder injury forced him out for an extended period. The 2020/21 season saw him rotate with Thijmen Nijhuis and Eric Oelschlägel, and by 2021/22 he was largely sidelined behind Fabian de Keijzer, though an injury to de Keijzer in early May brought Oelschlägel back into the lineup.
FC Utrecht Breakthrough (2018–2022)
Paes’s time at FC Utrecht offered him a mixture of setbacks and breakthroughs. After his surprising elevation to first-choice status at the start of 2019/20, he showed enough quality to remain in contention despite injury setbacks. The experience of competing at the top level of Dutch football helped shape his game and prepare him for a move abroad.
Although he did not cement a permanent starting role during his final Utrecht years, Paes’s exposure to Eredivisie football was invaluable. It equipped him with the tactical awareness and technical polish that would later attract interest from clubs outside the Netherlands.
FC Dallas Era (2022–2025)
On 20 January 2022, Paes joined Major League Soccer side FC Dallas on a six-month loan. His performances during the loan spell convinced the club to exercise the option to make the transfer permanent on 24 June 2022. At Dallas, Paes established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, becoming a steady presence in the MLS.
On 8 March 2024, FC Dallas announced that Paes had obtained a United States green card, granting him permanent resident status and counting him as a domestic player under MLS roster rules. His time in Texas marked his most consistent run of senior football, building the platform from which he would eventually attract international attention.
Persib Bandung Era (2025–Present)
Paes moved to Persib Bandung, continuing his professional career in a new footballing environment. The transfer reflected his growing profile after his standout international displays. His presence at Persib added experience and quality to the squad, with the club benefiting from his familiarity with high-level competition.
The move to Indonesia also aligned with his new international allegiance, allowing him to compete domestically in the country he now represents on the international stage.
Driving Style and Strengths
Paes is recognized for his commanding presence in the penalty area, strong shot-stopping ability, and composure under pressure. His height of 191 centimeters gives him an advantage in aerial duels and commanding of his box. He has also demonstrated strong distribution skills, which are increasingly important for modern goalkeepers operating in possession-based systems.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Paes’s career came on 5 September 2024 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia. After committing a foul inside the penalty box, he redeemed himself by saving the ensuing penalty kick from Salem Al-Dawsari in a 1-1 draw, earning him the man of the match award. He followed this with a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against Australia on 10 September 2024.
Maarten Paes International Career
Paes was a member of the Netherlands under-19 squads for both the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, though he did not appear in any games. He served as a backup to Yanick van Osch and Justin Bijlow respectively during those tournaments.
In January 2024, Paes confirmed that he had decided to represent Indonesia at international level, having declared for the nation earlier in January 2023. An initial ineligibility ruling was overturned, and on 18 August 2024, PSSI chairman Erick Thohir announced that FIFA had officially approved his change of sports citizenship from Dutch to Indonesian. Since then, Paes has become a key figure for the Indonesia national football team.
Maarten Paes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Paes was born and raised in the Netherlands. His maternal grandmother, who was ethnically Dutch, was born in Kediri, East Java, during the period when the region was known as the Dutch East Indies. This family connection made him eligible to represent Indonesia at the international level.
Personal Life
On 30 April 2024, Paes officially obtained Indonesian citizenship through naturalization. The decision allowed him to pursue his ambition of representing Indonesia on the international stage after a lengthy eligibility process. He continues to balance his professional career with his international commitments.
2025 Season Performance
Paes entered 2025 as the established goalkeeper for Persib Bandung, bringing with him the experience of multiple Eredivisie seasons and several years in Major League Soccer. His transition to Indonesian football marked a new chapter, with expectations high for his contributions to the squad.
On the international stage, Paes continued to feature for Indonesia in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. His standout performances during the previous qualifiers, including the penalty save against Saudi Arabia and the clean sheet against Australia, established him as a central figure in the team’s ambitions.
Looking ahead through the remainder of 2025, Paes’s focus is on maintaining consistency between club and country, building on the momentum of his recent international displays and contributing to Persib Bandung’s domestic campaign.