Vitesse sign three players to boost squad ahead of their first game of the season

Vitesse Arnhem have signed three players to help bolster the squad in anticipation of their first game of the season in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, the Dutch second division. The club has announced the signings of defender Nathan Markelo, goalkeeper Maximilian Brüll, and defensive midfielder Marco Schikora.

It will be Vitesse’s first game after they won an appeal to have their professional license reinstated a week ago. Many players had left the club after a preliminary relief judge ruled that the Dutch Football Association, KNVB, was allowed to revoke the club's license.

Markelo, 26, played for the Hungarian team Hebar Pazardzhik last season. He has signed a contract for one year with the option of an extra year. Markelo went through the youth system of FC Volendam before playing for teams like Jong PSV, Excelsior, Roda JC, and Fortuna Sittard.

“I’m happy to sign with Vitesse. The club has ambition, and I want to contribute to that. I hope to make my debut in the yellow and black soon and, together with the team, put in a strong season,” said Markelo in a Vitesse press release. The club will play an away match against Jong AZ on Friday.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper Brüll has been signed as a free transfer from German club Borussia Mönchengladbach. The German has signed a two-year contract. Brüll has been training with Vitesse for a while, but only after the license to play professional football was reinstated could a contract officially be signed.

The German defensive midfielder Schikora, 30 years old, earned a contract thanks to a closed-door friendly at Papendal. There, unattached players had the chance to showcase themselves to Vitesse last week. Schikora last played for SV Sandhausen, a club in the 3. Bundesliga.

The 180 total tickets for visiting supporters for the game against AZ’s youth team were sold out in minutes. The game will be played in Wijdewormer on Friday. There is also a possibility that many Vitesse fans without tickets are going to attempt to attend the game.

The Arnhem supporters have also purchased a total of 11,000 season tickets since the news of the club’s return was announced. The club’s first home game is on September 20 against Helmond Sport.

Vitesse will start the season with a 12-point deduction.