Ryan Hedges Joins Derby County Under John Eustace

Ryan Hedges is back under John Eustace’s command, this time in Derby County colours, after completing a free transfer to Pride Park.

The 31-year-old winger has signed a one-year deal with the Rams, who hold an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months. He left Blackburn Rovers at the end of last season when his contract at Ewood Park expired, drawing a line under four years in East Lancashire that included a spell working with Eustace during the 2024-2025 campaign.

Derby have had Hedges in the building for weeks. He reported for pre-season with the squad last month and has already pulled on the shirt in friendlies against Alfreton Town and SC Freiburg, giving supporters an early glimpse of what he offers out wide.

The former Wales international – capped three times by his country – arrives with a varied CV. Before his time at Blackburn, Hedges featured for Aberdeen, where he tasted European football in both the Europa League and the Europa Conference League, as well as turning out for Barnsley, Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient and Stevenage Borough.

He becomes Derby’s sixth signing of a busy summer. Eustace now has another familiar, trusted option in his attacking armoury as the Rams try to build a squad capable of sustaining a promotion push.