Indonesia's Ezra Walian Joins Second-Tier Dutch Club Almere City
Jakarta. Indonesia's half-Dutch striker Ezra Walian has signed a two-year contract with Almere City, a participant in the Dutch second-tier league Eerste Divisie.
Ezra has been a free agent since June, after he decided not to renew the contract with his former club Ajax Amsterdam. The 19-year-old was earlier rumored to move to England to Premier League club West Ham United, with which he has had a trial.
Almere announced the deal with Ezra on its official website on Tuesday (29/08). At the same time on the club's Twitter account, @AlmereCityFC, Ezra appeared on a photograph with his father Glenn Walian, while signing the contract in Malaysia, where he plays with the Indonesian under-22 national football team at the Southeast Asian Games.
"[Ezra] Walian will return to the Netherlands on Aug. 31, succeeding he will join the team of Almere City FC. The talented attacker originates from the youth academy of AZ and transferred to Ajax when he was only 14 years old," the club said.
"In 2013 he signed his first professional contract in Amsterdam, where he made his professional debut on Sept. 26, 2016. In the past season [Ezra] Walian played 22 matches for the successful team of Ajax Reserves in the first division of the Netherlands, de Jupiler League.
"Ezra is a promising striker. With his 'hero' status in Asia he had several options. It is to his credit that he chose Almere City FC as a stepping stone to develop himself further."
Born in Amsterdam, Ezra whose father is Indonesian, received Indonesian citizenship in March, by a decree signed by President Joko Widodo.
He has so far scored one goal in five appearances with Indonesia in international competitive matches.
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