Players who have had great success at Pride Park include David McGoldrick, Joe Wildsmith, and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. Wildsmith and Mendez-Laing were instrumental in the club’s comeback after being demoted to League One, and both players helped the Rams secure promotion at the conclusion of the 2023–24 season.
For the first time since September 2020, Derby spent money on transfer fees this summer after working under a strict budget and following an EFL business strategy. Thus far, it appears that they have been successful in assembling a formidable squad.
Just months after being approved, several signings since 2000 have failed to live up to expectations and struggled to establish a reputation for themselves.
Throughout the Rams’ turbulent 25-year tenure at DE24, Football League World has examined five of the worst transactions they have ever made.
Scottish center back Bob Malcolm, who went through the Rangers system in the 1990s, signed a contract with the Rams in 2006.
Malcolm faced difficulties after receiving an unexpected promotion, despite the fact that the 26-year-old appeared to be a viable option for Billy Davies’ squad in the Championship on a free.
Over the course of nine years, he had only played 110 games with the Rangers, and he had trouble cracking the Derby starting lineup. Malcolm only made one Premier League game before being permanently loaned out to QPR in November 2007. Four months later, he joined Motherwell.
A Latvian international who was born in Ukraine, Andrejs Perepoltkins joined the Rams on loan in August 2008 from Lativian side Skonto. He was maybe one of the most strange additions in Derby’s history.
The wide-midfielder didn’t really contribute at Pride Park, appearing in just two Championship games. However, he did provide an assist in a 3-1 League Cup victory against Lincoln City.
However, Pereplotkins failed to hunt for work in the East Midlands, and his loan agreement was terminated early.
Between 2006 and 2009, the Rams had a difficult time signing players, and Liam Dickinson was no exception.
After Derby’s initial approach of £250,000 was turned down by Stockport County, the striker cost Derby £750,000, however he never played for the Black and White team and instead spent most of his time at Pride Park on loan.
Less than a year later, he signed a £100,000 permanent contract to play for Brighton & Hove Albion.
Raul Albentosa joined the Rams from Spanish club Eibar for about €600,000 in the 2014–15 season, hoping to give them a significant boost to continue their promotion pursuit. However, Albentosa found it difficult to adjust to the English game, even though Derby was ranked in the top three.
He appeared in just ten contests for Derby overall, and he always gave off the impression of being lazy and unmotivated.
Within a year and a half, the center-back was moved to Deportivo de La Coruna because it was revealed that he had left his in-soles in Spain, which had an effect on his performances.
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