Top 10 most expensive football players in Southeast Asia: Indonesians take over the rankings

Although Southeast Asia does not receive as much attention as other regions in Asia, the level of football in the region continues to improve on the international stage. The market value of Southeast Asian players is also rising, with more players moving abroad to play in stronger leagues. In this article, SPBO Live Scores lists the most expensive football players in Southeast Asia by market value, as well as those with the highest transfer fees in history.

Top 10 most expensive football players in Southeast Asia (by market value)

At the top of the list is Indonesian player Jay Idzes, who holds Dutch nationality and plays as a central defender. In August 2025, Idzes joined Sassuolo for a transfer fee of €10 million, making him the most expensive Southeast Asian player in history. Throughout his career, he has mainly played in Europe, progressing through youth football in the Netherlands before moving to Italy in 2023. Currently, Idzes continues to perform consistently, featuring in every match for Sassuolo and helping the club maintain a mid-table position.

Another naturalized Indonesian player performing well in Europe is Kevin Diks, a midfielder playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach. The player moved to Germany in the summer transfer window and has made 18 appearances this season, scoring three goals. He has become an important figure in the squad, helping the team finish in 12th place, safely clear of the relegation zone.

The list also includes several other naturalized Indonesian players, most of whom are playing in Europe. In addition, there are two players from Thailand: Supachai Chaided and Chanathip Songkrasin. Supachai Chaided is the main striker for Buriram United and plays in the Thai League. With a market value of €900k, he has spent his entire career at Buriram United, winning the domestic league title six times with the club.

Chanathip Songkrasin is regarded as a legend of Thai football and serves as the captain of the national team. He previously played in Japan for clubs such as Consadole Sapporo and Kawasaki Frontale. Currently, Chanathip has returned to Thailand to play for BG Pathum United and remains a key player in the club’s title ambitions. His current market value is estimated at around €800k.

Top 10 most expensive football players in Southeast Asia (by market value)

1. Jay Idzes, Indonesia, 25, US Sassuolo, €10.00m

2. Kevin Diks, Indonesia, 29, Borussia Mönchengladbach, €5.00m

3. Calvin Verdonk, Indonesia, 28, LOSC Lille, €3.00m

4. Dean James, Indonesia, 25, Go Ahead Eagles, €2.00m

5. Maarten Paes, Indonesia, 27, FC Dallas, €1.50m

6. Thom Haye, Indonesia, 30, Persib Bandung, €1.00m

7. Ole Romeny, Indonesia, 25, Oxford United, €1.00m

8. Supachai Chaided, Thailand, 27, Buriram United, €900k

9. Miliano Jonathans, Indonesia, 21, Excelsior Rotterdam, €900k

10. Chanathip Songkrasin, Thailand, 32, BG Pathum United, €800k

Top 10 most expensive football players in Southeast Asia (by transfer fee)

In terms of transfer fees, Jay Idzes also leads Southeast Asia with his €10 million move from Venezia to Sassuolo. Venezia made a significant profit from the deal, having signed Idzes on a free transfer from Go Ahead Eagles in the Netherlands.

Chanathip Songkrasin dominates the list with three separate transfers included: from Muangthong United to Consadole Sapporo (€2.4 million), from Sapporo to Kawasaki Frontale (€3.5 million), and from Kawasaki Frontale to BG Pathum United (€1.8 million). These transfers place Chanathip in second, third, and fifth positions on the list.

Ranked fourth is the transfer of Neil Etheridge from Cardiff City to Birmingham City for €2.22 million. Etheridge is a Filipino goalkeeper who was born in England and developed in Chelsea’s youth system. He later played for several English clubs before moving to Birmingham for a record transfer fee. He has since returned to Southeast Asia and currently plays for Buriram United as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Another notable transfer is Kawin Thamsatchanan’s move from Muangthong United to OH Leuven in Belgium. This was one of the rare cases of a Southeast Asian player moving directly to Europe without naturalization. Kawin joined Leuven in early 2018, played for two seasons, and was later loaned to Consadole Sapporo in 2020. After multiple loan spells, he returned to Thailand in the summer of 2022 and retired in 2024.

Another high-profile but less successful transfer was Theerathon Bunmathan’s move to Yokohama F. Marinos in early 2020. Although he featured regularly at first, the move did not produce the expected results. He returned to Thailand in 2021 and has since continued his career with Buriram United.

Top 10 most expensive football players in Southeast Asia (by transfer fee)

1. Jay Idzes, Sassuolo, €8.00m

2. Chanathip Songkrasin, Kawasaki Frontale, €3.50m

3. Chanathip Songkrasin, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, €2.40m

4. Neil Etheridge, Birmingham City, €2.22m

5. Chanathip Songkrasin, BG Pathum United, €1.83m

6. Tanaboon Kesarat, Chiangrai United, €1.36m

7. Kawin Thamsatchanan, OH Leuven, €1.25m

8. Kevin Deeromram, Port FC, €1.03m

9. Theerathon Bunmathan, Yokohama F. Marinos, €1.00m

10. Teerasil Dangda, Shimizu S-Pulse, €1.00m

Through this article, spbolivescore.net has compiled the top 10 most expensive football players in Southeast Asia. We hope this list provides useful insight into the development and growing value of Southeast Asian football. For more football-related articles and news, visit our homepage here.