FC Dallas transferred goalkeeper Maarten Paes to Dutch side AFC Ajax of the Eredivisie. Paes departs Dallas after starting 114 matches, tied with Matt Jordan for the most starts by a goalkeeper in franchise history.
The terms of the transfer were not disclosed, but there were reports that it was worth around $1 million for FC Dallas. Paes was in the final year of his contract with FC Dallas before the move, and has signed a contract running until June 30, 2029, with Ajax.
Paes served as captain throughout the 2025 season, making 23 appearances while recording 69 saves and three shutouts. He captained FC Dallas against Minnesota United on April 19, 2025, in his 100th career start, becoming the club’s first goalkeeper to wear the armband since Scott Garlick on April 3, 2004. Paes ranked 22nd in MLS in saves and sixth in opponents’ crosses punched away (12) during the 2025 season.
Over four seasons with FC Dallas, Paes made 114 appearances, logging 10,182 minutes with 379 saves and a 70.38 save percentage. He recorded a career-high nine saves on June 1, 2024, against LAFC and earned selection to the 2024 MLS All-Star Game and MLS All-Star Skills Challenge. Paes leaves Dallas ranked among the club’s top five goalkeepers in minutes played, wins, saves, shutouts, and save percentage.
Paes joined FC Dallas on loan from Eredivisie side FC Utrecht on Jan. 20, 2022, before the club completed his permanent transfer on June 22, 2022. He made his Eredivisie debut Aug. 19, 2018, recording a shutout in a 2-0 win over PEC Zwolle.
Born in Nijmegen, Netherlands, Paes represented the Netherlands at the youth international level before becoming an Indonesian citizen in April 2024 through his late grandmother, Nel Appels-van Heyst, who was born in Indonesia. FIFA approved his one-time switch in August 2024. Paes made his senior international debut for Indonesia during the September 2024 FIFA window, helping secure draws in Saudi Arabia and at home against Australia. He earned his first international win on November 19, 2024, against Saudi Arabia and made 10 international appearances.
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Quick BDS Take
We've been waiting a few days now for this move to become official. Paes exits the club to return home to Holland, which I believe is the best move for him. I have to imagine being transferred to a club like Ajax has to be a childhood dream of sorts.
The 27-year old was a constant professional during his time in Dallas. He was always willing to give the press interviews and his time.
I plan on diving further into the goalkeeper situation for the club this week, now that I've had some time to think more about it, along with the pieces of information that I have been given since the end of last season. Some of that goes into why the club didn't bring back Jacob Jackson, which I know has been a lingering question on a lot of our minds.
