Laurin Ulrich Receives Germany U-21 Call-Up as Indonesia’s Naturalization Interest Faces New Twist

Laurin Ulrich has received his first call-up to the Germany U-21 national team, marking another significant step in the young midfielder’s career. The decision has attracted attention in Indonesia because the VfB Stuttgart-owned player had previously been reported as a potential target for the Indonesian national team’s naturalization program.

The 21-year-old midfielder is among seven players receiving their first Germany U-21 call-up under Antonio Di Salvo. Ulrich has been included in the squad for Germany’s final three UEFA European U-21 Championship 2027 qualifying matches against Latvia on September 26, Malta on September 30, and Georgia on October 6, with Germany currently leading Group F on 18 points.

Ulrich’s opportunity has also been influenced by changes within the senior Germany setup following the arrival of Juergen Klopp. The German Football Association has selected 44 players for the senior national team across two squads for four UEFA Nations League fixtures, giving Di Salvo greater room to introduce new faces at U-21 level. Ulrich joins Frank Feller, Noahkai Banks, Francis Onyeka, Wael Mohya, Paris Brunner, and Louey Ben Farhat among the newcomers.

Ulrich is already familiar with the German national-team system, having represented the country at several youth levels. He currently plays for SC Paderborn 07 on loan from VfB Stuttgart and has previously been associated with Stuttgart, Ulm, and Magdeburg. His latest promotion to the U-21 squad underlines his continued progress within German football.

The development also adds uncertainty to Indonesia’s previous interest in the midfielder. Ulrich was reportedly on Indonesia’s naturalization radar because of his Indonesian heritage through his grandfather, who came from Surabaya, although there has been no official confirmation that a naturalization process has begun. His Germany U-21 appearance does not automatically end Indonesia’s possibility of pursuing him, but a future official senior appearance for Germany could significantly affect his eligibility under FIFA regulations.