Ben Hamer became the final addition to Phillip Cocu’s squad in the summer transfer window, joining on a season-long loan from Huddersfield Town.
The 31-year-old adds depth between the sticks for Derby County and brings experience from more then 300 appearances which range from Conference National to the Premier League.
Here is everything you need to know about the custodian.
THE EARLY YEARS…
Though born in Somerset, Hamer spent his early years in Germany and his football career kicked when he returned to England as an 8-year-old. By 15 he was scouted by Reading where he climbed through the youth ranks.
The keeper gained his first senior experience on loan at Crawley Town where he made all but one league appearance on his way to becoming player of the season.
Three loan spells at Brentford over the next four seasons followed, with his second season, in 2008-09, his most successful. As first-choice keeper, he helped the Bees to lift the League Two title and his 20 clean sheets on the campaign earned him the Puma Golden Glove.
A further loan move to Exeter followed before the first permanent move of his career to League One side Charlton Athletic.
CLIMBING THE LEAGUES…
Hamer became regular between the sticks for the Addicks, making 41 league appearances to help Charlton become the champions of League One in the 2011-12 campaign.
He continued to be first choice for the following two seasons in the Championship, though injury hampered his game time during the 2013-14 campaign.
A move to newly promoted Leicester City came in the summer of 2014. An injury to Kasper Schmeichel gave Hamer his first Premier League appearance, which he grabbed with both hands, keeping a clean sheet to earn the Foxes’ first league victory in their Premier League return.
Hamer also has Champions League experience, playing in the group game against FC Porto.
While at Leicester, Hamer had a brief loan move to Nottingham Forest an Bristol City before a permanent move to Huddersfield Town last summer.
