3/1 To Win
George Thorne says it was a ‘no-brainer’ for him to sign a new contract with Derby County.
The midfielder, who was due to be out of contract at the end of the current campaign, has penned fresh terms until the summer of 2020.
Thorne, 25, has put his injury problems behind him after missing all of last season as he recovered from a broken leg.
He has started four of the Rams’ last five matches in all competitions and impressed with some assured performances in the middle of the park.
Talks had been ongoing with Thorne’s representatives since the back end of last year - and the former West Bromwich Albion player says there was never any doubt he would put pen-to-paper.
Speaking to RamsTV, Thorne said: “I’m delighted to be staying here and it feels like a reward for all the hard work I’ve put in. It was a no-brainer for me to stay here.
“I’m fit now, playing games and I’m really happy to be staying here and secure my future.
“It’s nice to know I’m going to be here for the next few years and I always believed it was going to get done at some point, so I just kept my focus on playing games and trying to perform well for the team.
“We are in a good moment at the minute and I am happy to be part of it.”
Thorne initially joined Derby on loan from West Brom four years ago, before signing permanently ahead of the 2014/15 season.
He dropped down from the Premier League in order to move to Pride Park Stadium and he still has a burning ambition to get back to that level with the Rams.
He said: “I am very settled here and I said when I joined back in 2014 that I wanted to help Derby County get back to the Premier League.
“It’s still very much my ambition and, like any player, I want to be playing at the highest level possible.”
