Sign up for the big Everton stories from a fantastic season so far Get the newsletter Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Everton prospect Nathangelo Markelo is dreaming of completing his remarkable rise from street footballer to Premier League player after Marcel Brands told him he would get an opportunity with the first team this summer.

The 20-year-old's rise began when he was spotted playing football in the street as a nine-year-old but after helping the Blues Under-23s to secure their second Premier League 2 Division 1 title last summer, he could soon be given the opportunity to show Marco Silva what he can do.

Speaking in an interview with Voetbal International, Markelo lifted the lid on his relationship with fellow Dutchman Brands, the club's director of football.

He said: “We have a chat every now and then. He is a friendly guy and I can always ask him for a advice when we have a cup of coffee.

“He is always an interested spectator when the reserves play.

“He knows exactly what is going on in the club and what players are available.

“He told me I would be called up for the pre-season training camp with the first team. Some clubs would like to have me on loan but Mr Brands insisted that was not a good idea yet.”

(Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

It's all a far cry from Markelo's humble beginnings. Born in Groningen on January 7 1999, Markelo moved to Amsterdam at an early age.

He joined amateur club ASV De Dijk as a striker at the age of nine, after youth coach Joey Jap Tjong had seen him in action, playing football in the street.

He then joined VPV Purmersteijn and soon scouts from AZ, Almere City and Volendam started to follow him.

He recalled: “I could do a trial with AZ in the morning but my mother would not allow me to skip school so I went to Volendam.

“They picked me up in a small bus every day. I have the best of memories of my time in Volendam.

“I was transformed into a defender and was taught to find ‘footballing solutions’ rather than just kick the ball away as Volendam are known for their tiki-taka style of play.”

(Image: Peter Lous/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Markelo vividly remembers how his move to Merseyside came about in June 2017.

PSV, Utrecht and Southampton also showed an interest in him but Everton were the most concrete in their offer and the negotiations and paperwork were completed within one day.

He said: “If I had been with Ajax, I might have needed some more time to make a decision, but now I immediately realised this was an opportunity I had to take with both hands.

“I'd seen that the likes of Jonjoe Kenny, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ademola Lookman and Tom Davies had all made it into the first team at an early age while the Under-23s manager David Unsworth also convinced my agent it was the right move for me.”

Having come to England, it was Unsworth, a former defender who could do a job in the centre of the park too, who converted centre-back Markelo into a holding midfielder.

He soon felt at ease, despite some initial reservations over whether he could handle the physical nature of English football after first entering the dressing room to find himself alongside players who were taller and bigger than himself.

Markelo said: “They looked like giants. I texted my agent wondering if I would ever make it here. I think the new position is the best place for me.

(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)

“I have composure and technical skills to defend well and play in team mates when under pressure.

“I had a spell at right-back too when there were a few injuries and Mr Unsworth claimed I would benefit from the experience and improve my transition play, learning to pick the right moment to join the attack.

“When I moved back to midfield, the manager told me I had become a more complete player.”

Although Markelo has developed a close friendship with Ademola Lookman, had revealed that his first introduction to first-team training was something of a chastening experience as some of Everton's established stars challenged the rookie.

He said: “I was not nervous but had a great time, training with Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott, but I also had my embarrassing moments.

“We did a rondo (piggy in the middle) and I, as a newcomer, was given a special 'welcome' by Yerry Mina, Kurt Zouma, Lucas Digne, Oumar Niasse, Ademola Lookman and Tom Davies who would pass the ball to me at a great speed an awkward height.

“They did not flinch and I only found out they had tested me like that after the training session when they smiled at me and revealed they always initiated newcomers this way.”

Markelo came out of the experience stronger though and hopes that his opportunity this summer will help persuade Everton to keep him on.

He said: “My contract expires in 2020, with an option for another season. I look forward to Everton activating that clause.”