Bundesliga
Who is Kevin Diks?
Kevin Diks made history at the start of 2025/26 as he became the first-ever player from Indonesia to feature in the Bundesliga. But who exactly is the versatile Borussia Mönchengladbach man? Here's the lowdown...
Data correct as of 11 December 2025
Age: 29 (born 6 October 1996)
Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach
Position: Defender
Country: Indonesia (eight cap, two goals)
Key stats
Diks joined Gladbach on a five-year contract in the summer and has since made history when he made his Bundesliga debut from the bench against Hamburg on the opening day of the 2025/26 campaign - never before has an Indonesian played amongst Germany's elite.
After two appearances for Fiorentina in 2016/17, it has been a long journey back to Europe's top five leagues for Diks, but he is already proving his worth at Borussia-Park.
Born in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands, Diks was first spotted by local side Vitesse Arnhem as a nine-year old and subsequently spent his entire youth there. He made his first-team debut in a 2-1 defeat to Zwolle in August 2014 and, although he spent the first half of the season in and out of the starting XI, he made the right-back spot his own from the January, starting each of the final 15 Eredivisie matches.
Following an impressive subsequent term, he was snapped up by Fiorentina in the summer of 2016, but returned on loan to his former employers just six months later.
That turned out to be a good move for all involved, as Diks helped Vitesse win the Dutch Cup, even providing an assist in the final despite playing just two minutes. In 2017/18, he moved temporarily back to the Netherlands again with Feyenoord, where he made 31 appearances and won a second Dutch Cup.
A wasted year at Empoli followed before Diks had to prove himself again, this time at Danish outfit Aarhus. There, he first displayed his goalscoring ability, scoring eight goals in 30 appearances and therefore attracting the attention of domestic powerhouse Copenhagen.
In four seasons there, he was an integral part of the back four, while also he also continue to find the back of the net. All in all, he departed for Gladbach with 22 goals in 170 outings - 13 coming from the penalty spot - as well as two Danish Superliga titles and a Danish cup.
After his cameo appearance in his first game, Diks played every minute of the subsequent 12 Bundesliga fixtures, scoring in back-to-back games from the penalty spot versus Cologne and Heidenheim as the Foals recovered from a disappointing start to the season.
Despite picking up 16 Netherlands caps at youth level, he choose to play for Indonesia - for whom he is eligible through his mother - after never receiving a senior Oranje call-up. He made his debut in a 4-0 defeat to Japan in November 2024, and scored his first two goals against Saudi Arabia 11 months later.
Plays a bit like: Josip Stanišić
Diks' greatest strength is his incredible versatility, and he has already displayed that at Gladbach by lining up both at left-back and, mainly, the heart of the defence. However, he has also played a lot of games at right-back, showing a flexibility aking to Bayern Munich's Stanišić. The Croatia international has become an important part of Vincent Kompany's squad in 2025/26, much likes Diks at Gladbach, and the Foals' man even has the added of quality of being a reliable penalty-taker to boot.
Did you know?
Diks is big news on Instagram - his page has two million follows, which is more than Gladbach's club page (1.2 million)! However, he is not the only person from his family to have played professional football, with brother Jamarro featuring in the Slovakian top flight as well as the Dutch lower leagues.
What they're saying
"Kevin is an experienced, versatile defensive player who can play in all positions in defence - central, left or right. He makes us more flexible in defence. In addition, he is a really good guy who knows exactly what he wants. He will fit in very well with us." - Gladbach sporting director Roland Virkus
"I am a very social and communicative player, who takes responsibility on the pitch with and without the ball. I think I am a winner. Everybody wants to be that, but I think I am a winner who wants to fight for every ball and is really aggressive on the pitch" - Diks discussing his playing style
"The hope is of course that with the presence of Kevin Diks, Indonesia's defence line will become even stronger. With his experience playing in the Champions League, there is definitely no doubt." - Erick Thohir, chairman of the Indonesian Football Association