Search

Market Leaders: The Most Valuable Football Players in ASEAN

Market Leaders: The Most Valuable Football Players in ASEAN
Mees Hilgers with FC Twente | Credit: Transfermarkt

Southeast Asian football is gaining increasing attention as the market value of its players continues to rise. According to Transfermarkt data as of December 2024, Indonesia dominates the list of the most valuable players in ASEAN, with seven out of the top ten spots held by members of the Garuda squad.

This dominance is clear evidence of the rapid development of Indonesian football talent on the regional stage.

At the top of the list is Mees Hilgers, a center-back for FC Twente and the Indonesian national team, with a market value of €9 million. This figure has surged dramatically from €5 million at the end of 2023, reflecting his impressive performances at the club level and his significant contributions to the national team.

In second place, Kevin Diks holds a market value of €4.5 million, followed by Jay Idzes in third with €3 million. The increase in market value highlights that players of Indonesian descent are not only key assets on the field but also attract considerable interest in the transfer market.

In addition to Indonesian players, the list also features two Thai stars—Supachai Chaided and Chanathip Songkrasin—and Malaysia’s defensive mainstay, Dion Cools. Their presence underscores the intensifying competition in ASEAN football, with many players excelling in both domestic and international leagues.

This is the list of the 10 most valuable ASEAN football players as of December 2024 according to Transfermarkt:

Rank Player Market Value (Euro/US Dollar) Country Club
1 Mees Hilgers €9.00 million / US$9.4 million Indonesia FC Twente
2 Kevin Diks €4.50 million / US$4.7 million Indonesia FC Copenhagen
3 Jay Idzes €3.00 million / US$3.13 million Indonesia Venezia FC
4 Calvin Verdonk €2.50 million / US$2.61 million Indonesia NEC Nijmegen
5 Maarten Paes €1.80 million / US$1.87 million Indonesia FC Dallas
6 Thom Haye €1.50 million / US$1.56 million Indonesia Almere City
7 Supachai Chaided €1.20 million / US$1.25 million Thailand Buriram United FC
8 Sandy Walsh €1.00 million / US$1.04 million Indonesia KV Mechelen
9 Chanathip Songkrasin €1.00 million / US$1.04 million Thailand BG Pathum United FC
10 Dion Cools €800k / US$835k Malaysia Buriram United FC

Thank you for reading until here