Marcelino Ferdinand Joins, Here’s Oxford United Coach’s Comments

London, Todaysgist.com – Indonesian player Marselino Ferdinan officially joined Oxford United, which is a newcomer club to the English Division I (Championship) in the 2024-2025 season, Monday (19/8/2024).

Marselino Ferdinan joined Oxford United on a free transfer, with a two-year contract until 30 June 2026. He becomes the first non-mixed-blood Indonesian player to appear in the English Premier Division.

“I am delighted and still can’t believe I am here,” Marselino told the Oxford United website.

“I will not waste this opportunity and will give 100% to make the most of it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Oxford coach Des Buckingham admitted Marselino is a young player who has achieved success in Asia. “He has many of the qualities we look for in an attacking player,” said the 39-year-old coach.

Marselino moved to England after a season with Belgian club Deinze, playing 134 minutes in seven games and scoring one goal. Previously, the 2004-born midfielder trained domestically, playing for Persebaya Surabaya.

Marselino is considered the best young talent in Indonesian football. The player who will turn 20 on September 9, has played 26 matches and scored three goals for the national team, and has been present at all major achievements in the last two years such as winning gold at the SEA Games, the 2023 Asian Cup, the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, and the 2024 Asian U-23 semifinals.

Oxford United is a long-standing English club, founded in 1893, regularly competing in Divisions I, II and III. In 2006, the club was briefly relegated to Division IV, and it took four seasons to return to Division III (League Two), then to Division II (League One) in 2016.

Last season, Oxford finished fifth in League One, and had to go through the play-offs to return to the EFL Championship for the first time in 25 years.

Apart from Marselino, Indonesia also has another player who plays in the Championship, Nathan Tjoe-A-On at the Swansea City club.