Derry Murkin: who is Schalke's new English full-back?
Schalke are aiming to return to the top flight with the help of the promising English left-back who developed in the Netherlands.
bundesliga.com takes a closer look at the latest English footballer to arrive in Germany…
Derry John Murkin
Age: 24 (born 27 July 1999)
Club: Schalke
Position: Left-back
Country: England/Netherlands
Key stats
Having been born in Colchester in Essex, Murkin's footballing development came entirely in the Netherlands as he lived there from the age of four due to his mother's work.
He emerged through the youth ranks at Volendam, gaining his first competitive experience in their youth team in the fourth tier of Dutch football. He operated as a winger in those days and fired an extremely impressive 23 goals in 42 appearances for the youngsters, before gaining a regular place in the Volendam first team in 2020/21.
Murkin was converted to a full-back by Volendam coach Wim Jonk. He would be part of a team that earned promotion to the Dutch Eredivisie in 2012/2022, and Murkin subsequently made 34 appearances in the top flight.
Schalke then swooped on the talent shortly before the transfer window closed in August 2023. He made a very promising debut for the side recently relegated to Bundesliga 2, smashing a goal in and hitting an assist as Schalke bounced back to beat Magdeburg 4-3 in a thrilling encounter in Matchday 6 of 2023/24.
Plays a bit like: Jeremie Frimpong
Explosive full-back? Tick. Eligible for England and the Netherlands? Tick. Clearly, the Bayer Leverkusen youngster is operating at a higher level than Murkin currently, but both possess the drive and the pace to make telling contributions at either end of the pitch. Murkin is also a match for Frimpong in terms of the relentlessness that fans love to see.
Watch: Schalke 4-3 Magdeburg - highlights
Did you know?
Despite his dual background, Murkin has made clear in the past that there is only one country he would like to represent one day - England.
What they’re saying
“Derry John is a quick and fit player, who stands out for the intensity of his runs and his tackling ability. He is not only a determined and solid defender, but will give extra impetus to our attacking play." – Thomas Reis, Schalke head coach
"In Derry John, we are signing a dynamic and fast left-back. He has the perfect profile for our squad and fills a gap for us. Derry John has just turned 24, has loads of potential and is ready to take the next step in his career." – André Hechelmann, Schalke sporting director
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