Shin Tae-yong Screens 200 Foreign Players, Persija Jakarta Only Selects 7 for the 2026/2027 Season

Persija Jakarta head coach Shin Tae-yong has revealed a remarkable figure: he has monitored and evaluated around 200 foreign players since taking charge. From that massive list, only seven names were selected to join 'Macan Kemayoran' in this transfer window. The seven newcomers include: Kerim Memija, Stjepan Loncar, Radovan Pankov, Denis Kolinger, Alexander Jeremejeff, Kyohei Yoshino, and Kwon Chang-hoon. In addition, Persija retained Fabio Calonego, raising the total number of foreign players in the squad to eight. According to the 2026/2027 Super League regulations, each club can register a maximum of 11 foreign players, meaning Persija still has three slots to fill. One of the names heavily rumored is Croatian striker Ivan Mamut. However, Shin Tae-yong declined to confirm or deny this. He stated that announcing new players falls under the club management's authority. 'The club will announce it soon. Most likely this week,' Shin told the media. The South Korean coach also emphasized that he does not want to engage in social media rumors. 'There have been many names circulating, but the final decision is from the club. I cannot do the transfer department's job,' he explained. Shin Tae-yong assured that the quality of potential players has been thoroughly researched by him. 'Since I took over the team, I have searched and monitored around 200 players. I know their abilities very well,' he asserted. Shin Tae-yong's caution is believed to avoid past mistakes Persija made in recruiting foreign players. With his extensive experience at the national team level, he is building a more systematic transfer machine. Experts assess that Persija selecting only 7 out of 200 players indicates very high standards. This promises a more competitive season for the Indonesian capital's representative. Fans are waiting to see who will fill the remaining three slots, and whether Ivan Mamut will be the next name.