Bandung –

Persib Bandung has officially introduced Thom Haye as a new recruit for the 2025/2026 season. The Indonesian national team midfielder of Dutch descent has been signed to a two-year contract and is immediately projected to play in the Super League and AFC Champions League 2.

The presence of Haye is described as a strategy to strengthen the midfield line.

« Haye is known as a tough defensive midfielder, intelligent in reading the game, and skilled at maintaining rhythm in the midfield, qualities that earned him trust to represent the Dutch national team from U15 to U21 before eventually choosing to wear the Garuda jersey, » explained an official.

« This recruitment also reinforces management’s commitment to providing maximum support to the team and coach, ensuring that every line is filled with quality players capable of meeting the challenges of competition, » the official stated.

Brief Profile of Thom Haye

The name Thom Haye has long captured the attention of the domestic football public. Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on February 9, 1995, this 1.87-meter-tall player has Indonesian heritage from a grandfather from Solo and a grandmother from Sulawesi. That connection eventually led him to officially represent the Indonesian National Team in 2024.

His career was forged in the AZ Alkmaar academy from a young age, then continued to several top clubs such as Willem II, Lecce in Italy, and SC Heerenveen. Most recently, he played for Almere City before his contract ended in July 2025. Throughout his career, Haye has recorded over 400 professional appearances, with goal and assist contributions that have earned him the nickname « midfield general. »

Haye is known for his exceptional playing vision. He calmly sets the tempo, is accurate in passing, and skilled at executing set pieces. The nickname « The Professor » seems fitting to describe his sharpness in reading the game. It’s no wonder Persib was so serious about bringing him in to strengthen the midfield.

What is Thom Haye’s Salary at Persib Bandung?

The issue of Thom Haye’s salary has been in the spotlight since he was announced as joining Maung Bandung. Based on data, while at Almere City last season, Haye received approximately €400,000 per season, equivalent to Rp 7.6 billion.

Now, at Persib Bandung, he is reportedly receiving a salary of Rp 750 million per month, or about Rp 9 billion per year. That figure makes Haye potentially one of the highest-paid players in the history of the Indonesian League.

Additionally, according to data, Haye’s current market value reaches Rp 17.38 billion, so his salary amount is considered reasonable for a player of his caliber.

Haye’s transfer is said to be a form of Persib management’s seriousness to compete, both in domestic competitions and at the Asian level. With his fantastic pay, Haye is projected to become the driving force in the midfield alongside Marc Klok, Dedi Kusnandar, Adam Alis, and Luciano Guaycochea.

Persib Bandung

Persib Bandung is an Indonesian professional football club based in Bandung, West Java, and is one of the most popular and successful teams in the country. Founded in 1933 during the Dutch colonial era, the club has a long and storied history, winning multiple Indonesian league titles. It is renowned for its passionate fan base, known as « Bobotoh, » and its intense rivalry with Persija Jakarta.

Super League

The Super League is a professional association football league competition in Greece, founded in 2006 as the top tier of the Greek football league system. It replaced the former top division, the Alpha Ethniki, which had been in place since 1959, to create a more commercially viable and professional league structure. The league is best known for the historic and intense rivalry between its two most successful clubs, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos.

AFC Champions League 2

The AFC Champions League 2 is a new, second-tier annual continental club football competition organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which was first launched in 2024. It was created as part of a larger restructuring of Asian club football to provide a pathway for clubs from emerging nations and to increase the overall competitiveness of the sport across the continent.

Dutch national team

The Dutch national football team, known as « Het Nederlands Elftal » or « Oranje, » was officially established in 1905. Historically celebrated for its revolutionary « Total Football » philosophy in the 1970s, the team is a consistent international contender, having reached three World Cup finals and won the 1988 UEFA European Championship.

Indonesian National Team

The Indonesian National Team represents the Republic of Indonesia in international football (soccer) and is governed by the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI). Founded in 1930 during the Dutch colonial era, it was one of the first Asian teams to participate in the FIFA World Cup, qualifying in 1938 under the name « Dutch East Indies. » The team is a major source of national pride and competes in tournaments such as the AFC Asian Cup and the AFF Championship.

AZ Alkmaar

AZ Alkmaar is a professional football club based in Alkmaar, Netherlands, founded in 1967. The club is historically significant for its 1981 UEFA Cup victory and is known for its successful youth academy, having won the Eredivisie league title multiple times in the modern era.

Willem II

Willem II is a Dutch professional football club based in Tilburg, founded in 1896 and named after King William II of the Netherlands. The club has a rich history, having won the Eredivisie title three times, most recently in 1955. Its home matches are played at the King Willem II Stadium, a central part of the city’s sporting culture.

Lecce

Lecce is a historic city in Italy’s Apulia region, renowned for its spectacular concentration of Baroque architecture, earning it the nickname « The Florence of the South. » Much of its ornate architecture, including the Basilica di Santa Croce and the Piazza del Duomo, was constructed in the 17th century using the local, easily carved Lecce stone. The city’s history, however, dates back over 2,000 years to a Roman settlement, evident in its amphitheatre and ruins.