Ryuji Utomo

Al Najma

After training at youth clubs in Indonesia, Ryuji made his professional debut in Bahrain with Manama club Al-Najma in a 20 August 2015 friendly match against Malkiya Club. In this match, Ryuji was a starter who played 60 minutes before he was replaced. During this match, he received a yellow card in the fifth minute after a foul in the penalty area. Ryuji on 19 December 2015 scored his first goal for Al Najma in an away match against Al Tadamun Buri.

Arema FC

After six months in Bahrain, Ryuji returned to Indonesia to join Arema ahead of the unauthorized 2016 Indonesia Soccer Championship (ISC). As an apprentice to Arema's more senior players, Ryuji began to build his reputation as a physically robust defender who caught the attention of richer clubs at the end of the ISC. During a pre-season tournament ahead of the launching of the new Liga 1 (Indonesia) top-flight competition, Ryuji left Arema after failing to win a starting position.

Persija Jakarta

Rich club Persija Jakarta saw Ryuji's Arema departure as a chance to develop the young defender's potential. On 3 February 2017, Ryuji accepted an offer to join his hometown club. Another reason was Ryuji wanted to play close to his Jakarta-based ailing father. Ryuji played in nine matches for Persija in the 2017 Liga 1 season, impressing coach Stefano Cugurra who used him when senior players were on international duty. Despite its intention to keep Ryuji for the 2018 season, Persija let…

Ryuji has always played for Indonesia on the international level despite eligibility to play for Japan, where his mother comes from. Ryuji was part of the Indonesia national under-23 football team that won bronze in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games. After playing 13 times for the Indonesian national youth teams, Ryuji made his international debut for the senior team on 21 March 2017, against Myanmar.

Club

As of match played 6 November 2025

International

As of match played 9 December 2021

Ryuji was born to an Indonesian father and a Japanese mother. His father, who died on 1 September 2020, motivated him to pursue his football dreams. Several of Ryuji's career decisions were shaped by his father's health conditions. Ryuji is married to sports television presenter Shabrina Ayu, making them be seen as a celebrity couple in Indonesia. Their 16 March 2019 wedding pictures splashed the front pages of Indonesian entertainment tabloids. Ryuji became a father on 13 February 2020.