Thu 21 Jan
Time to read: 4mins
Darren Wassall says Derby County’s four new ‘exciting’ Academy recruits will only add to what he describes as a very talented set-up.
The Rams completed deals to bring Luke Thomas and Lewis Walker from Cheltenham Town and Ilkeston FC respectively, whilst Jayden Bogle and Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, both from Swindon Town, will join next summer.
The quartet are players that Wassall and his team have watched heavily over the course of the season, before they moved to bring them to the club despite pressure from a number of other opposing suitors.
Wassall, Derby’s Academy Director, says the moves show that the Rams are trying to complement the best local talent with that from further afield – a process that will enable club’s Academy players to progress even further in the coming years.
Speaking to dcfc.co.uk, he said: “We have signed Luke Thomas, who we have had watched on many occasions this season and he, like the other three, we fought off heavy competition to make sure that he joined us.
“He’s a forward that can play right across the front three. We are signing young players with potential and he is someone we are very excited to see progress in a Derby shirt.
“The great thing is that he has got three to four months to bed in before the start of the next season, so he and the rest of the new signing will be able to get to know the club and get to know us better.
“From that, they will be able to hit the ground running in July. Luke will go into the Under 18s squad for the game on Saturday against Middlesbrough.
“Just as excitingly, we have signed Lewis Walker from Ilkeston. He is a player that was on trial with us a few years ago and went away and joined Ilkeston.
“He has had great reviews since then from the people that we have had watch him and we are really excited about the potential that Lewis is going to bring to the table.
“He has signed a two-and-a-half year contract and he is here for the long-term.
“We want to develop him, he’s trained with us for the last few days and we have been impressed with his attitude and application.
“They are all exciting signings and they are being added to what is a really exciting squad.”
On the club’s recruits from Swindon Town, Wassall added: “Jayden Bogle and Jayden Mitchell-Lawson are two players that we have also been watched on a regular basis this season.
“Bogle is a right back and Mitchell-Lawson plays out wide. We are excited with their potential and their ability and they are adding to what is already a very strong Under 16s team and what we are trying to do is complement the best players from the local area with the best players we can get in from further afield.
“The stronger our teams are will hopefully enable our players to develop even further. Competition for places, even at this level, is very important.
“We are excited that we have got them and they will start with us full-time on 1 July. We are looking forward to working with them.”
In an exclusive interview with dcfc.co.uk yesterday, Walker spoke of how much Derby, as a club, has progressed since he was on trial three years ago.
Wassall, though, says the young forward has come on leaps and bounds himself since he was last with the club.
The Rams’ Academy boss has been left particularly pleased with the attitude, desire and commitment he has shown to become a footballer during his time away from the club.
Wassall added: “Lewis is a late developer physically. He is a lot taller now and everybody takes different paths.
“When he was last on trial, there was a mutual agreement that he wasn’t quite ready for the set-up at the time, but he’s gone away, played with Ilkeston and showed that he’s got that desire and commitment to want to become a footballer.
“He hasn’t been affected by an early knock in his career, he’s come back and said give me another go. We are delighted to have him back.”
