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2025–26 Derby County F.C. season

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Derby County
2025–26 season
OwnerDavid Clowes
ChairmanDavid Clowes
Head coachJohn Eustace
StadiumPride Park Stadium
← 2024–25
2026–27 →

The 2025–26 season is Derby County's 127th season in the Football League and their 56th in the second tier of English football. It is their second consecutive season in the Championship. They will also compete in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.

Players

[edit]
As of 12 August 2025[1]

List includes all first team players and any other matchday squad players

No. Name Position Nationality Date of birth (Age) Signed from Signed Fee Contract ends
Goalkeepers
1 Jacob Widell Zetterström GK Sweden (1998-07-11) 11 July 1998 (age 27) Sweden Djurgården 2024 Undisclosed 2027
12 Richard O'Donnell GK England (1988-09-12) 12 September 1988 (age 36) Blackpool 2025 Free 2026
31 Josh Vickers GK England (1995-12-01) 1 December 1995 (age 29) Rotherham United 2023 Free 2026
Defenders
2 Kane Wilson RB England (2000-03-11) 11 March 2000 (age 25) Bristol City 2023 Undisclosed 2026
3 Craig Forsyth LB Scotland (1989-02-24) 24 February 1989 (age 36) Watford 2013 £150,000 2027
4 Danny Batth CB England (1990-09-21) 21 September 1990 (age 34) Blackburn Rovers 2025 Free 2026
5 Matt Clarke CB England (1996-09-22) 22 September 1996 (age 28) Middlesbrough 2025 Undisclosed 2028
6 Sondre Langås CB Norway (2001-02-02) 2 February 2001 (age 24) Norway Viking 2025 Undisclosed 2029
20 Callum Elder LB Australia (1995-01-27) 27 January 1995 (age 30) Hull City 2023 Free 2026
21 Jake Rooney CB England (2003-08-22) 22 August 2003 (age 21) Burnley 2022 Free 2026
24 Ryan Nyambe RB Namibia (1997-12-04) 4 December 1997 (age 27) Free Agent 2023 — 2027
28 Dion Sanderson CB England (1999-12-15) 15 December 1999 (age 25) Birmingham City 2025 Loan 2026
33 Owen Beck LB Wales (2002-08-09) 9 August 2002 (age 23) Liverpool 2025 Loan 2026
35 Curtis Nelson CB England (1993-05-21) 21 May 1993 (age 32) Blackpool 2023 Free 2026
44 Isaac Gordon RB England (2007-01-03) 3 January 2007 (age 18) Academy 2023 —
Midfielders
8 Ben Osborn CM England (1994-08-05) 5 August 1994 (age 31) Sheffield United 2024 Free 2026
14 Andreas Weimann AM Austria (1991-08-05) 5 August 1991 (age 34) Blackburn Rovers 2025 Free 2026
16 Liam Thompson CM England (2002-04-29) 29 April 2002 (age 23) Academy 2018 — 2027
17 Kenzo Goudmijn CM Netherlands (2001-12-18) 18 December 2001 (age 23) Netherlands AZ Alkmaar 2024 Undisclosed 2028
18 David Ozoh DM England (2005-05-06) 6 May 2005 (age 20) Crystal Palace 2025 Loan 2026
23 Joe Ward RM England (1995-08-22) 22 August 1995 (age 29) Peterborough United 2023 Free 2026
32 Ebou Adams CM The Gambia (1996-01-15) 15 January 1996 (age 29) Wales Cardiff City 2024 Undisclosed 2027
37 Owen Eames CM England Academy 2023 —
42 Bobby Clark CM England (2005-02-07) 7 February 2005 (age 20) Austria Red Bull Salzburg 2025 Loan 2026
Forwards
7 Patrick Agyemang CF United States (2000-11-07) 7 November 2000 (age 24) United States Charlotte 2025 Undisclosed 2029
9 Carlton Morris CF England (1995-12-16) 16 December 1995 (age 29) Luton Town 2025 Undisclosed 2028
10 Rhian Brewster CF England (2000-04-01) 1 April 2000 (age 25) Sheffield United 2025 Free 2027
11 Corey Blackett-Taylor LW England (1997-09-23) 23 September 1997 (age 27) Charlton Athletic 2024 Free 2027
15 Lars-Jørgen Salvesen CF Norway (1996-02-19) 19 February 1996 (age 29) Norway Viking 2025 Undisclosed 2027
19 Kayden Jackson CF England (1994-02-22) 22 February 1994 (age 31) Ipswich Town 2024 Free 2026
39 Dajaune Brown CF Jamaica (2005-10-16) 16 October 2005 (age 19) Academy 2022 — 2027
48 Lennon Wheeldon CF England (2006-02-16) 16 February 2006 (age 19) Academy 2022 —

Transfers and contracts

[edit]

In

[edit]
Date Pos. Player From Fee Ref.
26 June 2025 CF England Carlton Morris England Luton Town Undisclosed [2]
1 July 2025 CB England Danny Batth England Blackburn Rovers Free [3]
GK England Richard O'Donnell England Blackpool Free [4]
AM Austria Andreas Weimann England Blackburn Rovers Free [5]
15 July 2025 CF United States Patrick Agyemang United States Charlotte Undisclosed [6]
31 July 2025 RW Scotland Cameron Wilson[a] Scotland Aberdeen Undisclosed [7]
1 August 2025 CF England Rhian Brewster England Sheffield United Free [8]
14 August 2025 CM Germany Jamie Wähling[a] Germany TSG Hoffenheim Free [9]
  1. ^ a b Signed initially for the Under-21s

Out

[edit]
Date Pos. Player To Fee Ref.
1 June 2025[a] RW Guatemala Nathaniel Mendez-Laing England Milton Keynes Dons Undisclosed [10]
  1. ^ The transfer was announced on 27 May, and would become official on 1 June once the transfer window opened

Loaned in

[edit]
Date Pos. Player From Date until Ref.
25 July 2025 LB Wales Owen Beck England Liverpool 31 May 2026 [11]
29 July 2025 DM England David Ozoh England Crystal Palace [12]
5 August 2025 CM England Bobby Clark Austria Red Bull Salzburg [13]
CB England Dion Sanderson England Birmingham City [14]

Loaned out

[edit]
Date Pos. Player To Date until Ref.
18 July 2025 CB Wales Daniel Cox England Walsall 31 May 2026 [15]
28 July 2025 DM Northern Ireland Darren Robinson Republic of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 30 November 2025 [16]
8 August 2025 GK England Harry Evans Northern Ireland Coleraine 4 January 2026 [17]
12 August 2025 GK England Jack Thompson England Worcester City 9 September 2025 [18]

Released / Out of Contract

[edit]
Date Pos. Player Subsequent club Join date Ref.
30 June 2025 CB England Sonny Bradley England Lincoln City 1 July 2025 [19][20]
CM Sierra Leone Tyrese Fornah England Northampton Town [19][21]
CF England Emmanuel Ilesanmi England AFC Telford United 3 July 2025 [19][22]
CF Northern Ireland Conor Washington England Matlock Town 18 July 2025 [19][23]
RB England Max Bardell England Buxton 24 July 2025 [19][24]
RW England Tom Barkhuizen England Barrow 29 July 2025 [19][25]
LB England Riley Moloney United States NC State Wolfpack 1 August 2025 [19][26]
CF England Tony Weston England Curzon Ashton [19][27]
GK England Josh Shattell England Whitehawk 8 August 2025 [19][28]
CM England Alex Stepien-Iwumene England Bromley [19][29]
CM Republic of Ireland Jeff Hendrick [19]
GK England Rohan Luthra [19]
LB Netherlands Erik Pieters [19]
CF Jamaica Kemar Roofe [19]

New Contract

[edit]
Date Pos. Player Contract until Ref.
23 June 2025 LB Scotland Craig Forsyth 30 June 2027 [30]
1 July 2025 GK England Harry Evans 30 June 2026 [31]
CM England Liam Thompson 30 June 2027 [32]
8 July 2025 CB England Luke Banks Undisclosed[a] [33]
CM England Owen Eames [33]
RB England Isaac Gordon [33]
CF England Justin Oguntolu [33]
CB England Adisa Osayande [33]
LW England Johnson Osong [33]
GK England Harley Price [33]
CM England Marsel Tola [33]
  1. ^ First professional contract

Pre-season and friendlies

[edit]

On 16 May, Derby County announced a pre-season training camp in Tyrol, Austria between 14–19 July 2025, including a friendly against Red Bull Salzburg.[34][35] Three days later, the club confirmed their pre-season preparations would begin with a trip to face Matlock Town.[36] A second friendly was later confirmed, against Burton Albion for the Bass Charity Vase.[37] A third was later added, against Walsall.[38] On 30 June, a fifth pre-season friendly was announced against Solihull Moors.[39] A home friendy fixture against Atromitos was also announced.[40]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

12 July 2025 Friendly Matlock Town 1–1 Derby County Matlock
13:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Causeway Lane
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was amended to an earlier time.[41]
18 July 2025 Friendly Red Bull Salzburg 1–2 Derby County Salzburg, Austria
18:00 CEST
(17:00 BST)
Report
Stadium: 28 BLACK ARENA-Nonntal
22 July 2025 Friendly Walsall 2–3 Derby County Walsall
19:30 BST
Report
Stadium: Bescot Stadium
26 July 2025 Bass Charity Vase Burton Albion 2–1 Derby County Burton upon Trent
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Pirelli Stadium
29 July 2025 Friendly Solihull Moors 2–4 Derby County Solihull
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Damson Park
2 August 2025 Friendly Derby County 2–0 Atromitos Derby
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 4,746

Competitions

[edit]

Overall record

[edit]
Competition Starting round Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
Championship Matchday 1 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 000.00
FA Cup Third round 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !—
EFL Cup First round 1 0 1 0 1 1 +0 000.00
Total 2 0 1 1 2 4 −2 000.00

Last updated: 12 August 2025
Source: Soccerway

Championship

[edit]
Main article: 2025–26 EFL Championship

League table

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
20 Oxford United 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0
21 Swansea City 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0
22 Watford 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0 Relegation to EFL League One
23 Derby County 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 0
24 Sheffield United 1 0 0 1 1 4 −3 0
Updated to match(es) played on 10 August 2025. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) Number of 12-point sending off offences; 9) Play-off (only if needed to determine promotion/relegation)[42]

Results summary

[edit]
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
1 0 0 1 1 3  −2 0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 1 1 3  −2

Last updated: 9 August 2025.
Source: Soccerway

Results by round

[edit]
Round1
GroundA
ResultL
Position23
Points0
Source: EFL
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed

Matches

[edit]

On 26 June, the Championship fixtures were released, with Derby visiting Stoke City on the opening weekend.[43]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

9 August 2025 1 Stoke City 3–1 Derby County Stoke-on-Trent
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: bet365 Stadium
Attendance: 25,746 (3,375 away supporters)
Referee: Elliot Bell
16 August 2025 2 Derby County v Coventry City Derby
12:30 BST Stadium: Pride Park
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was rescheduled for live Sky Sports broadcasting.[44]
22 August 2025 3 Derby County v Bristol City Derby
20:00 BST Stadium: Pride Park
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for 23 August, but was rescheduled for live Sky Sports broadcasting.[44]
30 August 2025 4 Ipswich Town v Derby County Ipswich
15:00 BST Stadium: Portman Road
13 September 2025 5 West Bromwich Albion v Derby County West Bromwich
15:00 BST Stadium: The Hawthorns
20 September 2025 6 Derby County v Preston North End Derby
15:00 BST Stadium: Pride Park
27 September 2025 7 Wrexham v Derby County Wrexham
12:30 BST Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was rescheduled for live Sky Sports broadcasting.[44]
30 September 2025 8 Derby County v Charlton Athletic Derby
20:00 BST Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for a 19:45 kick-off, but was rescheduled for live Sky Sports broadcasting.[45]

EFL Cup

[edit]
Main article: 2025–26 EFL Cup

Derby were drawn away to West Bromwich Albion in the first round[46][47] and to Burnley in the second round.[48]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

12 August 2025 First round West Bromwich Albion 1–1
(2–3 p)		 Derby County West Bromwich
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 8,548
Referee: Thomas Kirk
Penalties
w/c 25 August 2025 Second round Burnley v Derby County Burnley
19:45 BST Stadium: Turf Moor

Statistics

[edit]

Appearances and goals

[edit]
As of match played 12 August 2025

Players with no appearances are not included on the list

No. Pos Nat Player Total Championship FA Cup EFL Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Sweden SWE Jacob Widell Zetterström 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
3 DF Scotland SCO Craig Forsyth 2 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
4 DF England ENG Danny Batth 2 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
5 DF England ENG Matthew Clarke 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
8 MF England ENG Ben Osborn 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
9 FW England ENG Carlton Morris 1 1 1+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0
11 FW England ENG Corey Blackett-Taylor 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
14 MF Austria AUT Andreas Weimann 2 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
16 MF England ENG Liam Thompson 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
17 MF Netherlands NED Kenzo Goudmijn 2 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
18 MF England ENG David Ozoh 2 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
19 FW England ENG Kayden Jackson 2 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
20 DF Australia AUS Callum Elder 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
21 DF England ENG Jake Rooney 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
23 MF England ENG Joe Ward 1 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 1
24 DF Namibia NAM Ryan Nyambe 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
28 DF England ENG Dion Sanderson 2 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
31 GK England ENG Josh Vickers 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
32 MF The Gambia GAM Ebou Adams 2 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
39 FW Jamaica JAM Dajaune Brown 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
42 MF England ENG Bobby Clark 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
48 FW England ENG Lennon Wheeldon 1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Men's First Team - Player Profiles". Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Transfer News: Striker Carlton Morris Signs For Derby County". Derby County FC. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Defender Danny Batth signs for Derby County". Derby County FC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Transfer News: Goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell Signs For Derby County". Derby County FC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Forward Andi Weimann returns to Derby County". Derby County FC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Transfer News: USMNT Striker Patrick Agyemang Signs For Derby County". Derby County FC. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Academy News: Attacker Wilson Links Up With U21s From Aberdeen". Derby County FC. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Transfer News: Striker Rhian Brewster Signs For Derby County". Derby County FC. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Midfielder Wahling joins Academy ranks". Derby County FC. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Mendez-Laing Moves On". Derby County FC. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Owen Beck joins Derby County on loan". Derby County FC. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  12. ^ "David Ozoh Returns To Derby County On Loan". Derby County FC. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Transfer News: Bobby Clark Joins Derby County On Loan". Derby County FC. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Transfer News: Dion Sanderson Joins Derby County On Loan". Derby County FC. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Cox Makes League Two Loan Switch". Derby County FC. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Midfielder Robinson Makes Loan Move". www.dcfc.co.uk.
  17. ^ "Evans Makes Coleraine Loan Switch". www.dcfc.co.uk.
  18. ^ "Goalkeeper Thompson Joins Worcester On Loan". Derby County FC. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Derby County Retained List - 2024/25 Season". Derby County FC. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  20. ^ "Sonny Bradley signs for the Imps". Lincoln City FC. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  21. ^ "Tyrese Fornah Signs For Northampton Town". Northampton Town FC. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  22. ^ "Emmanuel - He Is With Us!". AFC Telford United. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Gladiators Go To Washington". Matlock Town FC. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Max Signs On". Buxton FC. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  25. ^ "Tom Barkhuizen: Signs". Barrow AFC. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  26. ^ @packmenssoccer; (2 August 2025). "Welcome to the Pack, Riley! 🐺" – via Instagram.
  27. ^ "Player News: Welcome Tony Weston". Curzon Ashton FC. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  28. ^ @HawksFCOfficial (August 8, 2025). "Welcome To The Hawks Josh Shattell" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "Ravens sign midfielder Alex Stepien-Iwumene". Bromley FC. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  30. ^ "New Contract: Long-Serving Forsyth Signs New Derby County Deal". Derby County FC. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  31. ^ "Academy News: Goalkeeper Evans Pens One-Year Contract Extension". Derby County FC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  32. ^ "New Contract: Liam Thompson Signs New Derby County Deal". Derby County FC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h "Eight Academy prospects commit to Rams ahead of 2025/26 season". Derby County FC. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  34. ^ "Derby County to travel to Austria for training camp". Derby County FC. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  35. ^ "Pre-Season: Derby County To Face Red Bull Salzburg". Derby County FC. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  36. ^ "Derby County to open 2025/26 schedule at Matlock Town". Derby County FC. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  37. ^ "Derby County to face Burton Albion in July". Derby County FC. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  38. ^ "Derby to make Walsall trip in pre-season". Derby County FC. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  39. ^ "Derby County to travel to face Solihull Moors". Derby County FC. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  40. ^ "Derby County to welcome Atromitos in August". Derby County FC. 16 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  41. ^ "Matlock kick-off time changed". Derby County FC. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  42. ^ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". English Football League. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  43. ^ "Championship 2025/26 fixtures, dates, schedule & how to watch: Birmingham vs Ipswich, Southampton vs Wrexham open new season". Sky Sports. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  44. ^ a b c "Three broadcast selections confirmed". Derby County FC. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  45. ^ "Broadcast selections made up to January 2026". Derby County FC. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  46. ^ "Carabao Cup Round One confirmed". English Football League. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  47. ^ @dcfcofficial (4 July 2025). "The Rams will travel to face West Bromwich Albion in Round One of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday 12th August at 7:45pm" (Tweet). Retrieved 5 July 2025 – via Twitter.
  48. ^ "Derby Learn Carabao Cup Round Two Opponents". Derby County FC. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
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