Mathew Baker (footballer)

Mathew Baker
Baker with Indonesia in 2024
Personal information
Full name Mathew Ryan Baker[1]
Date of birth (2009-05-13) 13 May 2009[2]
Place of birth Melbourne, Australia
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[3]
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Melbourne City
Youth career
2016–2017 Malvern City
2018–2021 Box Hill United
2021–2025 Melbourne City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025– Melbourne City NPL 18 (0)
2025– Melbourne City 0 (0)
International career‡
2024– Indonesia U17 19 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 February 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 November 2025

Mathew Ryan Baker (born 13 May 2009) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for A-League club Melbourne City. Born in Australia, he represents Indonesia at international level.

Early life

Mathew Ryan Baker was born on 13 May 2009 in Melbourne, Australia, to an Indonesian mother and an Australian father. Baker joined Malvern City youth academy in 2016.[4]

Club career

Melbourne City

In 2021 Baker joined Melbourne City youth academy. On 2 March 2025, Baker made his debut for Melbourne City's VPL side, starting in a 8–1 win against Moreland City.[5] Baker made his first team debut for Melbourne City on 30 July 2025 in an Australia Cup match against APIA Leichhardt.[6] On 30 September 2025, Baker signed his first professional contract with the club on a three-year deal.[7]

On 14 September 2025, Baker played the full 120 minutes as a left-back for Melbourne City Youth in a promotion play-off match against Brunswick City SC, which ended 2–2 after extra time. Melbourne City won the penalty shoot-out 3–1 and secured promotion to the NPL Victoria.[8][9] On 16 September 2025, Baker was included in City’s squad for an AFC Champions League Elite fixture against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, remaining an unused substitute in a 2–0 defeat.[10] He was again named as an unused substitute for City away to Vissel Kobe on 1 October.[11]

International career

Born in Australia, Baker is of Indonesian descent and is eligible to play for both Australia and Indonesia at the international level. In 2024, Baker was called up to the Indonesia under-16 team for the 2024 ASEAN U-16 Boys Championship. In the semi-finals, he started and played against his birth country, Australia, where his team lost 5–3. Indonesia would eventually finish 3rd in the competition.[12]

In August 2024, Baker received a call-up to the Australia U17 team in preparation for the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification. However, Baker declined the invitation and chose to continue representing Indonesia. During the qualification campaign, he helped Indonesia secure a spot in the final tournament by scoring the only goal in a victory over Kuwait. He also faced Australia again in the same qualifying tournament, with the match ending in a 0–0 draw.[13]

At the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, Baker played a key role in helping Indonesia reach the knockout stage of the tournament and secure qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[14] On 4 November 2025, Baker made his U17 World Cup debut, by starting in a 1–3 defeat against Zambia.[15] In the final group stage match, Baker was named in the starting lineup as Indonesia claimed a historic 2–1 victory over Honduras, their first win in a FIFA World Cup tournament.[16][17]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 6 September 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Melbourne City NPL 2025[18] Victoria Premier League 1 16 0 – – – 16 0
2026[18] NPL Victoria 2 0 – – – 2 0
Melbourne City 2025–26[1] A-League 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Career Total 18 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 19 0

Honours

Indonesia U16

References

  1. ^ a b "Mathew Baker - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  2. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ – Squad List: Indonesia (IDN)" (PDF). FIFA. 24 October 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  3. ^ "AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025 - Squad Lists - AFC" (PDF). p. 5. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  4. ^ Adhiansyah, Yova (2 April 2025). "Profil Mathew Baker, Bek Andalan Timnas Indonesia U-17 Yang Tolak Panggilan Australia U-17". SindoNews (in Indonesian).
  5. ^ "Melbourne City FC v Moreland City SC". GameDay. 2 March 2025.
  6. ^ "City's bright future on show despite Australia Cup exit". Melbourne City FC. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  7. ^ "City Football School to First Team: Homegrown defender signs first professional contract". Melbourne City F.C. 30 September 2025. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Melbourne City vs Brunswick City SC". GameDay.
  9. ^ "HISTORY MADE: City Youth promoted to NPL". Melbourne Cit F.C. 17 September 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  10. ^ "ACLE REPORT: City v Sanfrecce Hiroshima". Melbourne Ciy F.C. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  11. ^ "ACLE REPORT: Vissel Kobe 1-0 City". Melbourne Ciy F.C. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  12. ^ Baskoro, Bayu (1 July 2024). "Garuda Muda Kalah 3-5, Gagal ke Final Piala AFF-U16". detikSepakBola.
  13. ^ Kurniawan, Hery (9 August 2024). "Pengakuan Nova Arianto: Sempat Kaget saat Matthew Baker Dipanggil Timnas Australia U-17". Bola.com.
  14. ^ Nadira, Fergi (9 April 2025). "Indonesia Lolos Piala Dunia U-17 2025, Belanda & Spanyol Jadi Penonton". CNBC Indonesia.
  15. ^ "Hasil Piala Dunia U-17: Timnas Indonesia U-17 Kalah dari Zambia". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). 5 November 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Hasil Piala Dunia U-17: Fadly Cetak Gol Indah, Indonesia Menang 2-1". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). 10 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Indonesia Meraih Kemenangan Perdana di Piala Dunia". FIFA (in Indonesian). 11 November 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Mathew Baker - Player statistics". GameDay. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  19. ^ "Australia win ASEAN U16 Boys' title". AFF. 3 July 2024.
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