Maarten Paes Bio
Maarten Vincent Paes is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. Born on 14 May 1998 in Nijmegen, Netherlands, he has built his career in the Netherlands, the United States, and Indonesia, currently playing for Eredivisie club Ajax. Standing 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) tall, he is recognized for his reflexes, command of the penalty area, and ability to perform in high-pressure matches. After representing the Netherlands at youth level, he switched allegiance to Indonesia in 2024, becoming a senior international for the national team.
Paes began his footballing journey in the youth ranks of VV Union before joining NEC’s academy. He went on to feature for NEC, Jong Utrecht, FC Dallas in Major League Soccer, and Ajax in the Dutch top flight, and he also represents Indonesia at international level after obtaining citizenship through his maternal grandmother’s heritage.
Early Life and Background
Maarten Vincent Paes was born on 14 May 1998 in Nijmegen, a historic city in the eastern Netherlands. He grew up in a football-friendly environment and developed an early interest in the sport, joining local club VV Union as a young boy. His height and athletic build made the goalkeeper position a natural fit, and coaches quickly identified his potential between the posts.
At the age of fourteen, in 2012, Paes moved from VV Union to the youth academy of NEC, a professional club based in Nijmegen. Over the next four years, he progressed through NEC’s youth ranks, refining his shot-stopping, distribution, and reading of the game. He represented NEC at several youth levels, gaining experience in competitive matches that prepared him for the demands of senior football.
Paes completed his development in NEC’s academy and signed his first professional contract with the club. His upbringing in the Netherlands, combined with his maternal family’s ties to Indonesia, would later play a significant role in shaping his international career path.
Path to Soccer
Paes’s transition to professional football began at NEC, where he joined the senior squad in 2016. During the 2017–18 season, he served as a backup goalkeeper to Joris Delle, learning from an experienced senior keeper while training with the first team. Although his playing time was limited, the experience allowed him to adapt to the physical and tactical demands of senior football.
In 2018, Paes took a major step in his development by joining FC Utrecht, initially featuring for Jong Utrecht, the club’s reserve side. He made his first-team debut for Utrecht on 19 August 2018, starting in a 2-0 home victory against PEC Zwolle after David Jensen fell ill and Nick Marsman was unavailable due to injury. That single appearance in the 2018/19 season marked his arrival on the Eredivisie stage.
At the start of the 2019/20 season, Paes surprisingly became FC Utrecht’s first-choice goalkeeper, a clear sign of the coaching staff’s confidence in his abilities. A shoulder blade injury during the winter break of that season forced him to miss around six months of action, but he continued to develop his game upon returning to fitness. The pathway from NEC’s academy to FC Utrecht’s first team provided the foundation for his subsequent move abroad.
Maarten Paes Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Paes began his senior career with NEC in 2016, spending two seasons with the club from his hometown. During the 2017–18 season, he operated as the backup goalkeeper behind Joris Delle, gaining valuable experience training alongside an established Eredivisie keeper. Although he did not feature as a regular starter, the period allowed him to understand the rhythm of senior matches and the importance of consistency in preparation.
His time at NEC laid the groundwork for his move to a bigger club, with his contract ending in 2018. The professional environment, combined with regular exposure to first-team training, helped him develop the mentality required to compete at higher levels.
FC Utrecht Breakthrough (2018–2022)
After joining FC Utrecht in 2018, Paes initially played for Jong Utrecht while waiting for his opportunity in the first team. His senior debut came on 19 August 2018 in a 2-0 home win over PEC Zwolle, stepping in due to illness and injury. The match remains a milestone in his career as his first Eredivisie appearance.
Paes was promoted to first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the 2019/20 season, a remarkable rise for a young keeper. A shoulder blade injury during the winter break sidelined him for roughly six months, and FC Utrecht responded by loaning in Jeroen Zoet. The 2020/21 season saw him rotate with Thijmen Nijhuis and Eric Oelschlägel, while the 2021/22 campaign was disrupted by further competition and injuries. Despite the challenges, his spell at Utrecht cemented his reputation as a talented shot-stopper in the Dutch top flight.
FC Dallas Era (2022–2026)
On 20 January 2022, Paes joined Major League Soccer side FC Dallas on a six-month loan, marking his first move outside the Netherlands. He adapted quickly to the demands of American soccer, and on 24 June 2022, Dallas exercised the option to make the transfer permanent, securing his long-term future with the club. He featured regularly as FC Dallas’s first-choice goalkeeper for several seasons.
On 8 March 2024, FC Dallas announced that Paes had obtained a United States green card, granting him permanent resident status and counting him as a domestic player under MLS roster rules. His time in Dallas was characterized by consistent performances and a growing leadership role within the team, before his eventual return to Dutch football.
Ajax Era (2026–Present)
On 2 February 2026, Paes officially joined Eredivisie club Ajax on a three-and-a-half-year contract running until 30 June 2029. The move brought him back to the Netherlands after a productive spell in MLS, and he was assigned the number 26 shirt. He made his debut for Ajax on 21 February 2026 in a 1-1 draw against his former club NEC, recording seven saves in a strong individual performance.
On 24 May 2026, Paes helped Ajax advance to the 2026-27 UEFA Conference League second qualifying round by saving two penalties against his former club Utrecht in the European competition play-off final. The heroics in the shootout underlined his value as a big-match goalkeeper and signaled a successful start to his Ajax career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Paes is recognized for his commanding presence in the penalty area, sharp reflexes, and strong shot-stopping ability. His 1.91 m frame gives him an advantage in claiming crosses and dealing with aerial threats, while his distribution with both feet allows him to launch attacks from the back. He has shown composure in high-pressure moments, including penalty saves in decisive matches, reflecting a mature mindset for a goalkeeper of his experience.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Paes’s career came on 5 September 2024, when he made his senior international debut for Indonesia in a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Despite conceding a penalty, he saved the spot kick from Salem Al-Dawsari and was named man of the match. Earlier, on 24 May 2026, his two penalty saves against Utrecht helped Ajax progress in European competition, marking another signature performance in his career.
Maarten Paes Career Wins
Throughout his career, Maarten Paes has built a reputation as a reliable goalkeeper across multiple leagues. While he has not lifted a major senior trophy, his contributions have been measured in standout performances, clean sheets, and crucial saves that have shaped key matches for his clubs and country.
FC Dallas Highlights
During his time at FC Dallas from 2022 to 2026, Paes served as a key figure in the team’s defensive structure. He recorded multiple clean sheets across his MLS seasons and was recognized as one of the club’s most consistent performers. His permanent transfer in June 2022 and later green card status reflected his importance to the organization.
Ajax Highlights
Since joining Ajax in February 2026, Paes has quickly established himself between the posts. His debut against NEC, featuring seven saves, and his two penalty saves against Utrecht in the European play-off final highlight his immediate impact at the club.
Other Wins & Performances
At FC Utrecht, Paes’s promotion to first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the 2019/20 season and his debut against PEC Zwolle in 2018 stand out as career milestones. With Indonesia, his man-of-the-match debut against Saudi Arabia and a clean sheet against Australia in September 2024 represent early highlights of his international career.
Maarten Paes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Maarten Vincent Paes was born and raised in Nijmegen, Netherlands. His maternal grandmother, who was ethnically Dutch, was born in Kediri, East Java, during the period when the region was known as the Dutch East Indies. This family connection ultimately provided the heritage link that allowed him to obtain Indonesian citizenship in 2024 and represent the Indonesia national football team.
Personal Life
Paes holds Dutch nationality and, in 2024, officially obtained Indonesian citizenship through a naturalization process. He also received a United States green card in March 2024, granting him permanent resident status in the United States. His multicultural background reflects a family history tied to both the Netherlands and Indonesia.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 season, Maarten Paes continued his role as FC Dallas’s first-choice goalkeeper in Major League Soccer, building on the consistency he had shown in previous years. He featured regularly for the club, contributing clean sheets and key saves that helped shape Dallas’s defensive record across the campaign. His performances underlined his importance as a senior figure in the squad.
Internationally, Paes was a central part of Indonesia’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. He built on his 2024 international debut, including a clean sheet against Australia, and continued to feature in competitive fixtures for the national team. His role between the posts gave Indonesia a reliable last line of defense as they progressed through the qualification stages.
By the end of 2025, Paes had established himself as a key player for both club and country, setting the stage for his high-profile transfer to Ajax in February 2026. The season reinforced his reputation as one of the most consistent goalkeepers of his generation, with momentum that carried directly into the next chapter of his career in the Eredivisie.
