Derby County Men's season preview 2025-26

Senior Writer Jack Bryan and Joe Egerton of @derbycountyupdates2 preview The Rams chances for the upcoming season.

That Derby County achieved their pre-season goal by staying up on the final day last season is true. But that statement alone would frankly be a disservice, to John Eustace, his playing squad, and everyone behind the scenes who helped pull off The Great Escape.

It’s not hyperbolic to say that the return of The Rams' former number 14 has felt transformative for many, and not just in the remarkable upturn in form he oversaw, averaging play-off form in his 14 games in charge last season.

No, it feels as though there has been a culture shift. There was of course the much fabled (by me at least) “fighters not victims” mentality, and it feels as though fans truly believe in Eustace, with everyone pulling in the same direction.

As Joe notes: “For the first time since the 18/19 season, there seems to be a fresh sense of optimism going into the upcoming 25/26 campaign under head coach John Eustace. The last three years at Pride Park have been all about rebuilding and slowly moving in the right direction as a stable Championship club once again.”

And for as much appreciation as the Pride Park faithful have for John Eustace, the feeling appears to be mutual. As part of this summer’s renovations at the club’s Moor Farm Training Centre, pictures of Rams supporters adorn the walls “to show the players here what it means to wear the badge”.

The Head Coach

When Paul Warne was dismissed in February, Derby’s hierarchy sprang into action, quickly identifying John Eustace as their prime target before working tirelessly to secure his signature. And it was never hard to see why: with every team he has managed in the second tier, Eustace has shown himself to be one of the division’s best operators, leaving both Birmingham and Blackburn in the play-off places.

While the more cautious, or perhaps slightly pessimistic fan would add is that the 45-year-old has never completed a full Championship season with one club, this is not down to a lack of ability.  His dismissal from The Blues is widely perceived to have been unjust, having steered them to safety the previous season. Indeed, it came as the club’s new ownership sought a big-name manager in former England skipper and Rams boss Wayne Rooney. At Blackburn Eustace did the same, before returning to Pride Park following reported disillusionment with his bosses at Ewood Park.

Historically, the Rams boss has favoured a 4-2-3-1, but after deploying the shape in his first three games in charge, all of which ended in defeat, he had to change tact. The switch to a 3-5-2 showed the Solihull-born manager’s tactical astuteness, maximising the strengths of the players at his disposal, some of whom were utilised in unorthodox roles, to build an efficient, defensively solid, counter-attacking outfit.

This ability to bring more out of players than many observers thought possible, has been a hallmark of his managerial career to date. And his heavily detailed approach, with focus on Individual Player Development Plans, will surely be on show evident again, as the 45-year-old continues to shape the Derby squad in his image.

Eustace is now deploying his 4-2-3-1 once more as he looks to instil an identity. But expect the 3-5-2 to remain up his sleeve, particularly if Derby need to hold on to a lead.

Clowes and co. are backing their man in the dugout, and he is certainly in it for the long haul; the desire is for sustainable progress towards long-term success. After all, not a month has gone by without the Eustace stressing that his work is not just about the here and now, but the next two or three years.

In Derby, the West Midlands native finds himself at a club where he seems to have the board’s full backing as the man to take them to the next level over multiple seasons - something he has perhaps never truly had as a Championship manager.

The Captain

Fans have similar sentiments towards another tenacious midfielder in Ebou Adams, with whom it was almost love at first sight when he arrived on loan from Cardiff City in the winter of 2024. Having been the missing piece of the puzzle in The Rams League One promotion push, the Gambian international had a similar impact last season, after signing permanently, leading the league in tackles and interceptions, while always playing with a smile on his face, and his heart on his sleeve.

So, it was predictably a popular choice when Eustace made Adams his captain.

With the armband, The Rams’ number 32 found another gear. Playing as an attacking midfielder in Eustace’s 3-5-2, Adams combined his remarkable defensive work rate with his pace and power, to “drive Derby up the pitch” and help boost his side’s creative output.

While the 29-year-old’s on-the-ball numbers will be lower than most attacking midfielders, his role will not be that of a conventional ‘number 10’ – he is not the primary creator. Based on pre-season, Adams will be tasked with aiding a lone striker in a high press, looking to win the ball back and recycle the ball to a more creative midfielder, who will be able to split the opposition defence from deep.

Transfers so far

At the Fans’ Forum in June, CEO Stephen Pearce confirmed that the budget for the upcoming season would be significantly higher than last season partly due to Eiran Cashin’s sale to Brighton. The average age of the Derby squad last season was 28.6 years and the biggest challenge facing Eustace was to bring through young talent which could help Derby move in the right direction.

So far, there has been a blend of experience and younger additions to the squad in the transfer window, Carlton Morris (29), Danny Batth (34) and Andreas Weimann (34), were the first three players through the door who all have experience in the Championship and Premier League. In fact, Morris scored 39 goals in 137 appearances for Luton Town, including 15 goal contributions in the Premier League.

However, since then The Rams have made three loan signing who are all in their early 20s: David Ozoh (20), Owen Beck (22), Bobby Clark (20).

Last season, Derby were fourth from bottom in terms of expected goals and it quickly became apparent that goal scoring was an issue. Injuries to Lars-Jørgen Salvesen, Dajuane Brown, Conor Washington and Kemar Roofe meant that both Paul Warne and John Eustace had to be heavily reliant on loanee Jerry Yates who finished the season with ten goals.

Despite no signs of imminent investment, David Clowes put his hand in his pocket to fix that: The Rams spent a reported £5.8 million on US international forward Patrick Agyemang from Charlotte in the MLS. Agyemang’s transfer was the most amount of money that Derby have spent on a player since David Clowes took ownership of the club in July 2022.

On top of these seven additions, goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell has arrived on a free transfer from Blackpool, likewise versatile attacker Rhian Brewster from Sheffield United. Defender Dion Sanderson has reunited with Eustace after moving to Pride Park on loan from Birmingham City too, and more are expected to come given the club saw 12 first-team departures at the end of last season.

How have Derby fared in pre-season?

Pre-season started as it has done for the last couple of years, with a trip to now eighth-tier Matlock Town, where they required a 93^rd-minute Harry Hawkins header to rescue a draw.

But six days later, The Rams defeated Champions League opposition in Red Bull Salzburg, Corey Blackett-Taylor scoring, and assisting Kayden Jackson as a strong counter attacking display saw them run out 2-1 victors in Austria.

That contrast, in a nutshell, is why you should never read too much into pre-season results.

A 3-2 win at League Two Walsall and a 2-1 defeat at League One Burton Albion followed. Before a 4-2 win at National League Solihull Moors, in which the hosts scored two goal of the season contenders. I implore you to look them up if you haven’t already.

With Derby still ravaged by injuries and fitness concerns, a number of youngsters have had the chance to impress in pre-season. The pick of the bunch has been striker Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu (18) who caught the eye with goals against both Walsall and Solihull Moors.

The Rams finished pre-season with a 2-0 win over Greek top-flight side Atromitos at Pride Park on Saturday, Blackett-Taylor won and scored a penalty for the third time in four games, to take his pre-season tally to six goals and an assist, while Kenzo Goudmijn scored directly from a corner.

How will Derby line up?

Having so far had to get results by whatever means necessary, Eustace will now be looking to get his side playing more football, so to speak. Winning games with thirty per cent possession is unlikely to be sustainable after all.

In a 4-2-3-1, expect the goalkeeper to look for a hard-working 9 and 10, who look to win first and second balls, only for the ball to be worked back to a central midfield duo. Understanding between this pair will be crucial, as they look to dictate play while also rotating into pockets to cover for an attacking full-back joining pacy wingers to create a wide overload.

Between the sticks, Jacob Widell Zetterström, now minus a helmet, is number one. The Swedish shot-stopper proved to be a good Championship goalkeeper following his arrival from Djurgårdens IF last summer. There have previously been question marks over his distribution, but this seemed to improve following the arrival of highly rated Head of Goalkeeping Paul Clements in February.

In Josh Vickers, Eustace has a steady number two who barely put a foot wrong when called upon for a handful of games at either end of last season, while Richard O’Donnell will provide further experience as third choice which may well be of benefit to the club’s new B Team.

At right back, Derby have two very different profiles. Ryan Nyambe is a defensive-minded full back, who one suspects, would be comfortable on the right of a back three. In contrast, Kane Wilson is very much an attacking wing back, with ball-carrying numbers up there with the best in the division. Driving runs and tricky dribbling are the norm for The Buffalo, who will look to beat defenders one-on-one. He’ll certainly get bums off seats, but one of The Rams most exciting players may be targeting more goal contributions than the three he registered last term.

There are now an embarrassment of riches at centre back. 2019-20 Rams player of the year Matt Clarke has consistently looked assured since his January return to Pride Park, the left-footed defender is aerially dominant, and strong in the tackle, while more the adept with the ball at his feet. Clarke’s main weakness is a lack of pace, but this should not be an issue when Derby are at their strongest. Norway international Sondre Langås has shown himself to be lighting quick – so much so that he was still the fastest of Derby’s centre backs when playing with a torn meniscus at the end of last season. His warrior-like displays were a big factor in The Rams impressive defensive performances under Eustace, but having only had surgery in May, he’ll miss the start of the season.

In Danny Batth (34) Eustace has added an experienced head he knows he can rely on. Batth is very much a ‘head it, kick it’ defender, schooled in the art, but he does lack pace. Versatile defender Dion Sanderson, however, does not. Able to cover centre back and right back, Sanderson arrives on loan from Birmingham City, where he was Eustace’s captain aged just 23.

Jake Rooney (21) too can play at both centre back and right back and boasts an impressive passing range. He’s never really put a foot wrong for The Rams, but after an injury-hit couple of years, a loan move doesn’t seem out of the question. And then there’s 2023-24 Jack Stamps Player of the Year Curtis Nelson (32), who is yet to feature under Eustace having suffered an ACL injury in January. His future could depend on how he recovers from that.

Derby have three first-team options at left back. Veteran Craig Forsyth’s performances at the end of last season won him a new 2-year deal aged 36. The experienced Scot is not expected to play as regularly as he has previously in his more than a decade at Pride Park, but how many times has that been said over the years!

In Australian Callum Elder is a well-rounded player, who again has struggled with injuries. He’s not been seen for the first team since the trip to Salzburg on Friday, July 18.

Surely the first choice, though, will be Liverpool loanee Owen Beck (22), who Eustace worked with at Blackburn last season. The Welshman was considered good enough going forward to operate as a left winger on occasion but is equally adept defensively. Eustace recently called him “One of the most exciting full-backs in the country for his age”.

In midfield, Liam Thompson is hard-working and combative, with an uncanny knack to win aerial duels given his small stature and has seemed to develop a strong understanding with Dutchman Kenzo Goudmijn in pre-season. The former AZ man showed flashes of brilliance throughout his first season in England but struggled to adapt to the physicality of the Championship. In pre-season, though, Goudmijn has embraced a ‘quarter back’ role playing delightful line breaking passes from deep.

Returning Crystal Palace loanee has a point to prove. The 20-year-old is equally as graceful on the ball as he is powerful, but his first season of senior football was beset by injuries. The same could be said of local lad Ben Osborn (31), whose football brain impressed, but struggled for fitness. That said his best performances arguably came as a deep-lying playmaker: the left side of the double pivot could suit him.

While the previously profiled Ebou Adams is expected to operate as a 10, Derby possess a host of more conventional attacking midfielders too. Austrian Andi Weimann (34) is someone both Eustace and the Derby faithful know well. The head coach brought him to Blackburn last season, where his quality shone when called upon. Though able to play anywhere across the front four, Rams fans will remember his previous spell at Pride Park, when he was often shoved out on the wing, and, frankly, looked a shell of the player seen elsewhere. He’s best through the middle.

A Champions League winner with Liverpool, Rhian Brewster was tipped for big things after winning the golden boot as England lifted the U-17 World Cup in 2017. A big money move to Sheffield United saw the versatile attacker fail to hit the heights that had been hoped for, but if he can display some of the potential shown earlier in his career, Derby could have some player on their hands.

Speaking of potential, RB Salzburg midfielder Bobby Clark has it by the boat load. The 20-year-old, who made his senior debut for Liverpool against Derby was raved about by Jurgen Klopp, before following his assistant to Austria 12 months ago. Now the son of former Newcastle man Lee finds himself back in England with a point to prove and will look to be The Rams’ creator-in-chief whether through the middle or on the right flank.

On said right flank, are two options. Kayden Jackson made a perfect start to his Derby career last season, with three goals and an assist in August. But the pacy winger mustered up just one more of each for the remainder of the campaign. He remained a hard worker, but lacked end product something you could not accuse Joe Ward of. The former Peterborough man has a killer delivery, but has long found himself on the fringes of the squad, making just three starts last season. A right wing back by trade, there isn’t necessarily a role that suits him in Eustace’s preferred shape, so an exit wouldn’t be overly surprising.

Over on the left, there is one option really, pre-season talisman Corey Blackett-Taylor. It had felt as though his Derby career still hadn’t got going since arriving from Charlton 18 months ago, but the number 27 has now added goals and assists to his sharp, direct wing play which sees him terrify isolated defenders. He could be in for a big season.

Up front, Carlton Morris brings Championship pedigree. Though his goals dropped off last season, he was often starved of service, taking roughly half the number of shots he had in his previous Championship campaign. But the number nine offers so much more than goals: his link-up play is exceptional and made such a difference when he was available in the latter part of pre-season.

The Rams have spent big money on Patrick Agyemang, who spent the summer leading the line for the USMNT at the Gold Cup.  A physical but raw talent with only a couple of years of senior football under his belt, the 24-year-old will need time, in the first instance to recover from a hernia, but the club clearly have high hopes for the American.

Lars-Jørgen Salvesen will be like a new signing. The Norwegian was Paul Warne’s long-awaited target man but only played eight games before picking up a season-ending injury. He too will be a hard-working, aerially dominant frontman – a crucial role in Eustace’s system.

And then there’s youngsters Dajuane Brown and Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu, who have both impressed when called upon. They will have a part to play before Agyemang and Salvesen return, but it seems likely that at least one of the two prospects will then be loaned out for first team football.

You can find a rough depth chart below but expect some of those listed as attacking midfielders to operate out wide too. The injury list is another caveat: Wilson, Langås, Salvesen and Nelson are all still recovering from injuries picked up last season. On top of this, Agyemang is yet to feature following a hernia operation, Brewster and Bobby Clark are not match fit, and both Beck and Matt Clarke are “50/50” for the opening day.

Where will Derby finish?

In terms of expectations for the season: temper them. For now, at least. The injury crisis that plagued Derby last season is not a distant memory quite yet.

But don’t press send on your angry tweet just yet. While the opening weeks may well be difficult for The Rams, we expect this season to be one of real growth for John Eustace’s side, who should not have to worry about another relegation scrap.

Derby have been considered a dark horse by some, especially with their head coach’s reputation of overachieving at both Birmingham and Blackburn. And while we’ll stop short of predicting a top six finish in what should be one of the most competitive Championship seasons in years, a top-half place certainly feels plausible.

In his first press conference as Derby County Head Coach, Eustace said that he wanted “to build something special”, Rams fans will hope that this season will see steps taken towards that.