The Yellows majority shareholder, who is also Minister for Youth and Sports in the Indonesian government, recently confirmed an agreement between Dutch giants Ajax and Indonesia’s national football association.

The agreement will see the rollout of a nationwide programme that aims to develop footballer in Indonesia based on the Ajax coaching philosophy.

The Amsterdam-based club, who have four UEFA Champions League trophies to their name, will train coaches throughout Indonesia with the country’s FA investing ‘seriously’ in football development.

United owner Thohir said in a statement on Ajax’s website: “Football is the number one sport in Indonesia, but we must acknowledge that we still face challenges in our youth development system.

“This is what we want to continue learning from and adapting from the successful system in the Netherlands.

“We are therefore proud to establish this partnership with Ajax, a major club with a proven development philosophy and a special historical relationship with Indonesia.

“Through Ajax’s knowledge and experience, we can take an important step towards improving the quality of coaches and football talent in Indonesia.”

Indonesia now becomes part of the Dutch side’s international football network which includes clubs from Mexico, Austria, Italy, Spain, Greece, Uzbekistan and Japan.

Due to Oxford’s owner having such influence in Indonesia, the U’s have recently seen players from the nation join the club.

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Marselino Ferdinan and Ole Romeny, two national team stars, have represented the League One side, with the former currently out on loan in the Netherlands with Fortuna Sittard.

United have had a tricky summer with board-level changes seeing a new chairman appointed in Dusan Bogdanovic, Grant Ferguson stepping down and into a board role.

A temporary registration embargo followed after the club failed to comply with Squad Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) regulations.

Further comment on the Indonesia and Ajax partnership was given by the club’s CEO, Menno Geelen: “We want to maintain our position as one of the best talent developers in the world and share our knowledge in markets that are relevant.

“Indonesia is such a market: large, with tremendous potential and a huge passion for football.

“We have been in contact for a number of years now, and we are proud to be able to build on our relationship with Indonesian football and contribute to the further development of the sport in the country.”

The Yellows midfielder opened the scoring after 76 minutes at the Kassam Stadium, swiping home Mo Missanga’s cut-back cross from close range.

Dembele went on to assist Louie Sibley’s 90th-minute goal before Gatlin O’Donkor bagged a stoppage-time third to secure a first home League One victory of the season.

After a season of struggle last year – he was left out of the squad entirely in the second half of the campaign – the 30-year-old is back in the fold under new head coach Aaron Ramsey.

“I never doubt myself whatsoever because I know how talented I am when I play,” Dembele declared after the win over Burton.

“People will see at some point.

“From the minute [Ramsey] got here, he showed his appreciation for how I play and wanting to get me involved in the game, to be able to affect games.

Oxford United players celebrate Siriki Dembele’s opening goal against Burton Albion (Image: Oxford United)

“But to also use my qualities to help the team which will also show. Whereas, I think before, that was not really the case.

“Since he’s come in, it’s getting the best out of myself in a sense.

“He’s obviously known my qualities before and he’s someone that clearly appreciates it and he’s obviously playing me now, which is nice.

“You’re not going to be everyone’s favourite but he’s someone that obviously trusts me and likes the way I play and that allows me to show my qualities and help the team.”

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Dembele’s goal was his first since scoring in a 1-0 win over Sheffield United at home in April 2025 as Oxford secured survival in the Championship under Gary Rowett.

His strike against the Brewers on Saturday was his first in front of the East Stand and felt like it had been coming this season after promising performances for Ramsey’s Yellows.

“Things change very fast in football,” the former Birmingham City and Bournemouth man reflected.

“Sometimes you can be out of the picture and then, in the blink of an eye, you can be the best player in the league.

“I think you’ve just got to be relentless in how you see yourself, how you approach life and how you approach the game. Everything else is without your control.

Siriki Dembele (right) battles for the ball against MK Dons (Image: Oxford United)

“You want to play every single game and whenever you do play, whoever that is, you give your best.”

The U’s have risen to fifth in the table after the recent win, with a game in hand.

“It’s been good. No-one’s getting carried away though. It’s a long season.

“It’s important to just build momentum”

It took until the 76th minute for Siriki Dembele to score the opening goal at the Kassam Stadium, with 90th and 94th-minute strikes from Louie Sibley and Gatlin O’Donkor securing a comfortable victory in the end for the Yellows.

The win over Burton sees them record a first home win back in League One and rise to fifth place in the table with a game in hand.

Oxford have now won their last two games on the bounce after an emphatic 4-0 win at Leicester City last week, picking up two clean sheets.

“Listen, if it’s going to take until the 85th minute, let it be,” Ramsey declared after Saturday’s win.

“Look, we’re working hard to try and create opportunities and we have to be patient, but also have that relentlessness to keep going.

Oxford United midfielder Kai Andrews on loan from Coventry City (Image: Oxford United)

“It might be the last minute of the game, but as long as we know that we’re secure behind it and we can go and attack, then there’s no reason not to.

“And that’ll be the same when we are 1-0 up. We keep going for it.

“No games are easy in this league and it was a different test for us, but one that we had to stand up to, so full credit to the boys again.

“The resilience and the relentlessness then to carry on going and to keep creating opportunities and take it to them, especially in the second half, was really encouraging for us.

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“So to end the game 3-0 in the end is obviously a really pleasing afternoon.”

The trio of goals in OX4 were scored by a trio of players who just months ago were considered on the fringes and possibly on their way out of the club.

The renaissance of names such as Dembele, Sibley and O’Donkor has shown that Ramsey can get the best out of every member of the squad after the transfer embargo led to them being kept at the club.

“I thought the subs again were absolutely brilliant,” the United boss admitted.

“We’re going to need every single one of these players to come on then and have an impact again.

Ciaron Brown (left) celebrates with goal scorer Louie Sibley (right) (Image: Oxford United)

“Tyler [Goodrham], Sibs, Leo [Snowden], Gats: they’ve come on and made a real impact.

“I see their quality every day and for them to come on, they deserve these moments and showing everybody what they’re capable of doing.

“The demands that we’re putting on them and asking them to do different things in the game. And obviously we’re seeing their qualities come through them.”