Dean James Enthusiastically Plays For The Indonesian National Team

Dean James is expected to be able to defend the Indonesian national team in the nearest 2026 World Cup Qualification (Instagram/@dean11james).

JAKARTA - Prospective naturalized player for the Indonesian national team, Dean James, said he was proud because he would soon be able to help the Garuda Squad. Dean James made this statement via video call while attending the Commission X DPR RI Working Meeting on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

"Hi everyone, I am very enthusiastic to join the Indonesian national team. This is an honor to be able to help the country and the National Team (Indonesia)," said Dean James.

In the Commission X Working Meeting with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and PSSI, it did discuss the petition for consideration of granting Indonesian citizenship to three players. Not only for Dean James, but also for Emilio Audero and Joey Pelupessy.

Attended by the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Taufik Hidayat and the General Chairperson (Ketum) of PSSI, Erick Thohir, the agenda of this Working Meeting went smoothly. The results of the meeting also stated that Commission X agreed and gave willingness to the naturalization of the three players.

This naturalization was accelerated in the hope of registering the three players with FIFA no later than March 10, 2025 in order to strengthen the Indonesian national team against Australia and Bahrain.

The agenda is a continuation match of the 2026 World Cup Qualification Third Round at the end of March 2025.

Dean James is a left-back player who now plays for the Go Ahead Eagles. The 24-year-old was born at the Dutch Leiden, April 30, 2000.

Meanwhile, Emilio Audero Mulyadi was a goalkeeper born in Mataram on January 18, 1997.

The 192 cm goalkeeper is now playing in Palermo on loan from Como. Previously, Emil Audero had strengthened the U-15 to U-21 Italian National Team.

Lastly, Joey Pellupessy is a Dutch player who has Indonesian descent and plays in a midfielder position.