Charlie Setford: The teenage goalkeeper aiming for success with Ajax - and England

«I could play for Holland but I want to make my dad proud,» says Ajax's teenage goalkeeper Charlie Setford.

«He is English and has been there all the time for me. One thing I always wanted to achieve was to play for England.»

An England Under-18 international, Setford is attempting to establish himself in the professional game with the four-time European champions.

He has been a regular in coach Erik ten Hag's first-team squad this term as the club's third keeper.

And while his involvement will be limited on Tuesday as Ajax take on Benfica in the Champions League, it promises to be another occasion to remember for the 17-year-old.

Setford was on the bench for both victories against Borussia Dortmund in the group stage and was there on Friday when Ajax won 3-2 at Cambuur to strengthen their position at the top of Eredivisie.

The experiences are priceless at such a formative stage of Setford's career, as he outlined in an exclusive chat with BBC Sport.

Setford was born in Haarlem in 2004, to a Dutch mother and English father, the golfer Chris Setford.

He was scouted by Ajax from his local club when he was seven and has been there ever since, signing a three-year professional contract in 2020.

In addition to his exposure at first-team level, Setford has made seven appearances this season in Eerste Divisie, the Dutch second division, for Jong Ajax, the club's reserve side.

And he has progressed at international level too. Having played up to Under-16 level for the Netherlands, he switched his allegiance to England in the summer of 2019 — wanting to make his father proud.

«I have had a largely English upbringing,» Setford said. «Everything at home is practically English. We watch a bit of Dutch TV and some of the music is Dutch but it