David da Silva Joins Indonesian Citizenship: New Option for John Herdman as Timnas Coach
KOMPAS.com – Striker Malut United, David da Silva, is reportedly preparing to undergo the process of becoming an Indonesian citizen (WNI).
This step follows his teammate at Malut United, Ciro Alves, who previously submitted a similar process.
The interest of David da Silva arose after he met the requirement of five years of residency in December 2026.
The 36-year-old striker has played in Indonesia since 2019-2021 with Persebaya surabaya.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced him to move to Malaysia for less than 11 months, so the requirement of five consecutive years of residency was not met at that time.
News of the naturalization plan emerged through a post on the Instagram account @nusantara.ballers on Monday (1/12/2026).
“DAVID DA SILVA WNI! Malut United striker, David da Silva, is undergoing the naturalization process to become an Indonesian Citizen (WNI).
He has been active in the Indonesian League for a long time. He is currently 36 years old and has scored seven goals with Malut United this season.Last season, he also successfully won two titles with Persib Bandung,” the account wrote.
Read also: Observer Names Two Keys to John herdman’s Success with the Indonesian National Team
Ciro Alves submitted Documents Earlier
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David da Silva’s move is in line with the process previously undertaken by Ciro Alves. At the end of 2025, Ciro Alves was seen at the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, North Maluku.
In the circulating photo, he was wearing a Malut United jersey. His presence was related to
Potential Naturalization of David da Silva and Ciro Alves for Indonesian National Team
This report discusses the possibility of naturalizing David da Silva and Ciro Alves to bolster the Indonesian national team’s attacking options,contingent on them completing the process of becoming Indonesian citizens. The report originates from KOMPAS.com, published on January 15, 2026.
Super League Regulations and Player Quotas
Changes to regulations in the Super League (Indonesia’s top football league) are expected to impact the number of foreign players allowed on teams. These changes will likely reduce the quota for foreign players in other positions, but specifically allow David da Silva and ciro Alves to continue playing in the 2025-2026 season.
Impact on the Indonesian National Team (timnas Indonesia)
The new regulations could provide Indonesian national team coach John Herdman with additional options in the forward line. Both David da Silva and Ciro Alves are recognized as prolific goalscorers in the Super League.
Naturalization requirement
However, their inclusion in the national team roster is dependent on successfully completing the naturalization process to become indonesian citizens. Onyl after obtaining Indonesian citizenship would they be eligible for selection.
Verification Status (as of January 15, 2026, 04:56:47 UTC):
As of this time, there are no readily available reports confirming the completion of the naturalization process for either David da Silva or Ciro Alves. News searches indicate ongoing discussions regarding naturalization for foreign-born players to strengthen the national team, but no definitive announcements regarding these specific players. Further examination would be needed to confirm their current citizenship status.
Sources:
* KOMPAS.com: https://bola.kompas.com/read/2026/01/15/09322178/javascript:void(0)) (Original Source – Note: Source is flagged as untrusted and information requires independent verification.)