FC Schalke 04 struck again on the transfer market a few days before the end of the change period. The second division strengthened in defense.
A few days after Czech central defender Tomas Kalas changed, FC Schalke 04 announced another defensive commitment on Wednesday evening. As the Revierklub confirmed, Derry John Murkin is moving from Dutch first division side FC Volendam to the Knappen with immediate effect.
The club did not provide any information about the amount of the transfer fee. With the left-back, Schalke 04 can probably close their last squad construction site. The 24-year-old has been given a three-year contract with the Revierklub and will wear shirt number five in the future.
“With Derry John we are signing a dynamic and fast left-back. His profile fits him perfectly
in our squad and closes the gap that is still open. Derry John has just turned 24, has a lot of potential and will now take the next step in his development at Schalke,” said sporting director André Hechelmann in the official statement.
Murkin “absolutely” wanted to go to FC Schalke 04
Head coach Thomas Reis is also looking forward to the new signing, which will give him new line-up options: “Derry John is a fast and fit player who is characterized by many intensive runs and his strength in tackles. He’s not just an aggressive and robust defender, but will bring additional offensive impulses into our game.”
According to his own statement, Murkin, who was born in England, “definitely wanted to switch to Schalke”. He is now “burning” to “appear with his teammates in front of the S04 fans”.
The left-back joined FC Volendam’s youth ranks at the age of 16, before making the leap to the first team. For the club he played 59 games in the second and 34 games in the first Dutch league.
The transfer is the ninth this summer for Schalke 04. In addition to Tomas Kalas, Yusuf Kabadayi, Timo Baumgartl, Lino Tempelmann, Bryan Lasme, Marius Müller, Ron Schallenberg and Paul Seguin also found their way to Gelsenkirchen.