Bamford To Join Derby

Chelsea striker to join on loan for the rest of the season.

Derby County are to sign Chelsea’s England Under-21 international forward Patrick Bamford on loan for the remainder of the 2013/14 season.

The 20-year-old frontman has been a much sought-after player following an impressive loan spell at MK Dons in League 1 in the first half of this season, where he has scored 16 goals in 29 outings.

His loan spell with Derby is to be effective from Monday 6th January 2014.

After meeting Head Coach Steve McClaren, Bamford has agreed to bolster the Rams’ attacking firepower for the rest of the season and is expected to be in contention to make his debut in next Friday’s Sky Bet Championship game away to Leicester City (10th January 2014).

Bamford is to become the fourth England Under-21 international in Derby’s squad, alongside Academy product Will Hughes and loanees Andre Wisdom (Liverpool) and Michael Keane (Manchester United).

Grantham-born Bamford is no stranger to the East Midlands after coming through the ranks across Brian Clough Way at Nottingham Forest. He made two first-team appearances for the Reds whilst at the age of 18, in the 2011/12 season, and within a month he joined Chelsea on a five-year deal.

He was loaned out to MK Dons to gain first-team experience last season and bagged four goals in 14 appearances, before returning to Stadium:MK for the first half of this season in another loan deal.

His impressive goalscoring exploits landed him the October Player of the Month Award for League 1 after scoring four goals in seven appearances during the month.

Bamford’s fine form also impressed England Under-21s' Head Coach Gareth Southgate, who handed the former England Under-18 and Under-19 international his first cap at Under-21 level in October against San Marino.