Persija Jakarta is reportedly close to signing Brazilian midfielder Jean Mota, a former teammate of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, to bolster the midfield for the 2025–2026 season. The 30-year-old player has been a free agent since January 1, 2026, after leaving Vila Nova FC. This move is seen as adding quality and experience to the Macan Kemayoran squad.
Persija Jakarta is back in the spotlight in the early 2026 transfer window after reports of signing Brazilian midfielder Jean Mota, who once played alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. The news comes after Persija strengthened their forward line by recruiting young Indonesian national team striker Mauro Zijlstra on February 3, 2026. Attention now shifts to the midfield, seen as needing more quality and experience to chase the Liga 1 title.
Jean Mota has been without a club since January 1, 2026, following the end of his contract with Vila Nova FC in Brazil's Serie B. His free-agent status opens doors to join Indonesia's Liga 1. Mota is known for his versatility, able to play as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, or left winger, aligning with Persija's needs to boost creativity and balance in gameplay.
Mota's market value stands at Rp8.69 billion, reflecting his reputation in competitive levels in the United States and Brazil. A product of Santos academy, a major Brazilian club, he has an impressive track record: dozens of goals and assists from hundreds of appearances. His career continued to Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami from January 2022, where he made 53 appearances across all competitions, including alongside Messi in MLS 2024, such as a big win over Orlando City SC.
This experience playing with the world's best player adds significant value to Persija, which is building a strong team composition for the upcoming season.
