Lewis Dobbin, a former Derby County loanee, moved from Aston Villa to Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.
Winger Dobbin only joined Villa from Everton earlier this summer for a cost reported to be in the region of £10 million, but he was promptly loaned out and will make his second-tier debut.
Dobbin, 21, spent the 2022-23 season at Pride Park following the club’s relegation to League One. He scored five goals and assisted six times in 54 games while on loan from the Toffees, as the Rams failed to make the play-offs under Liam Rosenior and subsequently Paul Warne.
Dobbin returned to Goodison Park and made 12 appearances for Sean Dyche last season, scoring his first Premier League goal in a 2-0 victory over Chelsea in December 2023. He and Tim Iroegbunam subsequently transferred teams this summer as Villa and Everton sought to stay inside the PSR guidelines.
Dobbin flew to the United States with Villa this summer as part of their pre-season plans, but upon his return, he has made the short journey over the West Midlands and to the Black Country, where he will look to assist Carlos Corberan and Albion in accomplishing their goals in the coming season.
“I’m quite delighted to be here. “It’s an excellent opportunity to get first-team minutes and demonstrate my abilities,” he stated upon arrival. “I’ve heard a lot about the Championship, and I understand it’s a difficult, competitive league. I’m prepared for it, though. I truly want to demonstrate what I’m about. I enjoy exciting the crowd and getting them out of their chairs. I enjoy scoring and creating goals, so I’m hoping to do a lot of that this season.
On Boxing Day, the Rams will face Albion at Pride Park before traveling to The Hawthorns on April 21.
Derby County have returned to the Championship after celebrating promotion, and the atmosphere at Pride Park is heating up ahead of the big game.
With the season’s opening against Blackburn approaching, Rams fans are wondering what the campaign will bring now that they are back in the second tier.
Derby’s team will have a new look on August 9, thanks to five new recruits and more on the way before the transfer market ends. Kenzo Goudmijn’s flair in the heart of midfield has already been seen, while new front combination Jerry Yates and Kayden Jackson have yet to make an impact in pre-season.
Ebou Adams is back, patrolling midfield with the same intensity and aggression that made him such a success last season. And Ben Osborn has secured an emotional return to Pride Park, the club he grew up watching from the terraces.
There are some exciting games to look forward to in a league with some heavyweights like Leeds and Sheffield United.
And with the Rams ready to be backed by legions of black and white when they return to some familiar venues, this season promises to be exciting.
It’s an exciting moment to be a Derby fan, and to commemorate the positive vibes around Pride Park, we’ve created our Derby County 2024-25 Kick Off special, a fantastic guide to the new season.
Leigh Curtis, our man at Pride Park, will analyze the next season and what lies ahead for a team that is on the rise under owner David Clowes.
Our club-by-club guides provide information on Derby’s Championship rivals and managers, while our away days sections provide information on the sites where the Rams will play.
With a detailed fixture list and crucial dates for the season, Derby County’s 2024-25 Kick-Off will have you back in top match form for the opening day battle against Blackburn on August 9.
Order your book immediately from our online store and have it delivered right to your door. Starting July 31, some independent merchants and supermarkets in Derby will sell the product for £3.50. Worldwide shipping is available; postage and packaging apply.
