Irfan Bachdim

Bachdim announced on Monday, 27 January 2014 that he had officially joined J. League first-division side Ventforet Kofu.

Ventforet general manager Satoru Sakuma said Bachdim will be the J. League's first Indonesian player and his contract will run through the end of the 2014 season.

Japanese media on Monday, December 22, 2014 published that Consadole Sapporo has signed the Indonesia international Irfan Bachdim from Ventforet Kofu. The introduction of Irfan Bachdim as one of six new players of the club was presented on January 20, 2015. On May 3, 2015 Irfan Bachdim made his first J2 appearance on Sunday in Consadole Sapporo's 3-0 win over leaders Jubilo Iwata. After replacing Brazilian teammate Nildo on the right wing, Irfan drew cheers from the crowd when he streaked up the sideline and sent a well-placed cross in his first play.

In early December 2013 J-League clubs Vegalta Sendai and Ventforet Kofu trialed Irfan Bachdim for 2 weeks. He said that if he did not get a contract with these clubs, he would go back to Chonburi to prove himself to the new manager.

In the end Menpora Andi Mallarangeng guaranteed his right to perform for the national team. He was called by the U-23 team to play at the SEA Games 2011 and the qualifications for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Bachdim is married to Jennifer Kurniawan, a Chinese Indonesian model of mixed German descent and sister of Kim Kurniawan. In 8 July 2011, Bachdim and Kurniawan tied the knot in Germany. In 5 February 2012, Bachdim's first child and daughter, Kiyomi Sue Bachdim, was born. Two years later, in 21 March 2014, Bachdim's second child and first son, Kenji Zizou Bachdim, was born.

Bachdim's desire to play in Indonesia was finally realised on August 9, 2010, upon his recruitment by the then-coach of Persema Malang, Timo Scheunemann, after the latter observed the former and other young footballers in a charity match for football figure Lucky Acub Zaenal at Stadion Gajayana, Malang.

With no contract extension with FC Utrecht, Bachdim signed for HFC Haarlem on July 2009 in a free transfer deal. On March 2010 he underwent trials for Persib Bandung and Persija Jakarta. However, neither party signed him.

He was then recruited by scouts of FC Utrecht. He started for FC Utrecht junior team, all the while appearing on occasions for the senior reserve team. He made his debut for FC Utrecht in 1. Eredivisie on February 17, 2008, playing 90 minutes against VVV-Venlo.

Irfan joined the Indonesian U-23 national football team during one training camp which took place in the Netherlands. However, he was injured one week prior to the 2006 Asian Games.

Irfan Haarys Bachdim (born 11 August 1988) is an Indonesian professional footballer who currently plays for PSS Sleman and the Indonesia national team. He plays mainly at second striker but can also operate as a winger.

Bachdim's father, Noval Bachdim, is an Indonesian national of Arab-Indonesian descent born in Malang. He settled in Lawang, Malang, till the 1980s before moving to Netherlands, wherein he lived for 20 years after. Bachdim's mother, Hester van Dijk, is a Dutch national. The Bachdim family reside in Amsterdam. Additionally, Bachdim's grandfather, Ali Bachdim is a veteran of TNI Angkatan Laut (the Indonesian navy). Bachdim played for and in Indonesia as an Indonesian national without having to undergo the naturalization process, as he had remained a national throughout his entire life. Bachdim was born to a family of footballers. Noval Bachdim formerly played for PS Fajar Lawang (member of Persekam's Malang internal competition) in the 1980s. Meanwhile, Ali Bachdim is a former player for Persema Malang and PSAD Jakarta. Bachdim met his idol Max Caubo when he played a football game in Hanoi against the Vietnamese national team.