Sam Szmodics arrived at Moor Farm Training Centre as Derby County’s final addition of the winter transfer window on 2nd February 2026.

The attacking midfielder joined on a loan deal that runs until the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

Szmodics' move to Pride Park Stadium saw him once again reunited with John Eustace, the man who sparked the most productive spell of his career in front of goal when at Blackburn Rovers in 2023/24.

A product of Colchester United’s academy, the attacking midfielder spent six seasons with the Essex-based club, having joined the club at the age of seven.

He made his debut for the U’s shortly after his 18th birthday and signed a three-and-a-half-year professional contract 12 months later.

He was named as the club’s Young Player of the Year in 2015 and, although his career stalled through injury, he again signed a new long-term deal with the club.

Having established himself as the club’s leading scorer, he was sold to Bristol City but failed to settle at Ashton Gate and moved to Peterborough United after first enjoying a loan spell at London Road.

He helped Posh into the Championship, but one year later was transferred to Blackburn Rovers for a fee in excess of £1m.

His first campaign yielded seven goals, but the forward managed to dramatically increase his output during the 2023-2024 campaign.

Under Jon Dahl Tomasson, he hit a rich vein of form before the Dane made way in the manager’s chair for John Eustace.

The effect of Eustace’s arrival had a marked improvement on the forward. In all competitions, he managed to find the net on 33 occasions for his new boss.

This prompted a move to Portman Road as part of Kieran McKenna’s Premier League recruitment drive with Ipswich Town, and he scored on his first Premier League start away at Manchester City.

The Republic of Ireland international scored five goals in 36 appearances.