Seven Derby County signings you totally forgot about

Archie Brown is a football journalist and content creator. You can follow him on Instagram, TikTok and X.

Transfers. They are, for many fans, among the most exciting parts of football. And it's fair to say that there have been a fair few at Pride Park in recent times.

Here, Archie Brown brings you seven former Rams you probably forgot about.

1.      Ikechi Anya

Joining in August 2016 from Watford in a deal believed to be worth around £4m, the versatile Scotland International spent four forgettable years at Pride Park, before leaving upon the expiry of his contract in June 2020 and ultimately retiring a month later on July 1^st.

The Glasgow-born star featured only 35 times for Derby, scoring 1 goal in a spell that was blighted by injuries to his knee, ankle and calf.

2.      Sam Winnall

Known more for his chant to the infamous Ini Kamoze track ‘Here Comes the Hotstepper’, the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy graduate joined Derby on loan from local side Sheffield Wednesday in 2017. He scored 6 goals in 17 appearances during a memorable loan spell that was cut short by an Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear in February, causing a premature end to his time at The Rams.

The Wolverhampton-born striker endeared himself to the Pride Park faithful - particularly with his rocket of a goal against Ipswich Town at Portman Road, which won the December goal of the month award in 2017.

3.      Julien De Sart

This Belgian midfielder spent a brief period at the Rams in 2017, joining on a half-season loan from fellow Championship side, Middlesborough. De Sart’s only goal came during a 4-3 loss to Cardiff in February, opening the scoring with a rebounded effort from a Tom Ince corner.

Now 30, De Sart plays for Al-Rayyan SC in Qatar, where he has scored one goal in four appearances at the time of writing.

4.      Liam Delap

A player more notable for his big money switches between Premier League clubs, most don’t realise the rise of this second generation star began at Moor Farm during a ten-year spell between 2009 and 2019.

The Striker then made the dream move to Manchester City a reality, spending a year in the Cityzens academy, notably netting a hat-trick against the Rams in 2021, before making two senior appearances aside from successful loans at Stoke City, Preston and Hull before permanently leaving for Ipswich for around £20m in 2024.

Delap left Ipswich after just one season as the Tractor Boys faced relegation to the Championship, summoning a £30m bid from Chelsea which was accepted as the Englishman joined the blues, subsequently winning the FIFA Club World Cup in the summer of 2025.

5.      Omar Mascarell

Derby made headlines in 2014, when they reached an agreement with Spanish giants Real Madrid for the loan of centre-back Omar Mascarell.

The Spaniard, despite the expectations, failed to make an impact in his 23 appearances for the Rams, ultimately leaving in the summer of 2015.

Since then, the player has had a somewhat career revival, transitioning to a midfield role and making a transfer to German side Eintracht Frankfurt in 2016. He left after two years to join fellow Germans Schalke for three years before returning to Spain- first with Elche followed by a move to his current club, Mallorca.

6.      Timi Max Elsnik

Featuring for the Derby academy for two years between 2015 and 2017, the Slovenian made no senior for the first team. But he did make loan moves to Swindon, Mansfield and Northampton Town, scoring a combined seven goals in 50 appearances across all three clubs.

Elsnik returned to Slovenia in December 2020, signing for Olimpija Ljubljana and ultimately being made captain at 22 years old. The midfielder won the league title in 2023 as well as the Slovenian Cup in 2021 and 2023.

The former Ram has also made his presence known for his national team, receiving a call up to the Slovenian squad for the 2024 UEFA European Championships where he started every game, until the nation exited the competition at the round of 16, losing 3-0 on penalties to Portugal.

7.   Abdoul Razzagui Camara

Only one word can describe the Guinean-born winger's time at Derby - frustrating.

After several loan spells in Greece and Spain prior to his arrival from Angers in 2016, Camara made just 20 appearances, scoring one goal during his only season at the Rams. His only goal came in an FA Cup replay defeat at the hands of Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. The goal was laid off from a free-kick by Julien De Sart before being powerfully struck and deflected, before finding the back of the Foxes’ net.

Camara’s career came to an unfortunate end in 2018. Following a move to Guingamp in 2017, where he managed two goals in 14 appearances, doctors advised retirement after a heart condition was discovered, posing the threat of a cardiac arrest.

The player adhered to the advice given and so ended his spell as a professional footballer, having represented 10 senior clubs during his career.

So that's the list. Do let us know your thoughts on these players in the comments, and suggest players for future editions!