The worst kept secret of Derby’s summer has finally been revealed as Norwich winger Lee Croft has signed on at Pride Park for three years.

I cannot overstate the importance of this signing; Croft fits the bill perfectly for what Nigel Clough is trying to achieve at Derby. Croft is a young, talented player who fills a key need for the Rams on the right wing, where predecessor Nacer Barazite didn’t do enough to create chances for the front men last season as he learned to play at the first team level.

Croft is likely to be far more direct and productive, if his term at Carrow Road is anything to by, where despite his team’s relegation he won the fans Player of the Year award. On a free transfer, Croft is a steal; he has experience at the highest level, puts a decent shift in and is hungry enough to progress his game under our Nigel’s tutelage.

It seems the early advances made by Clough and Adam Pearson to sway Croft paid off as he told the official site, “Derby showed me their intentions early and showed me how much they wanted me which was a big factor in me wanting to come here.”

Suffice to say the news of Crofts arrival is welcome after weeks of inaction since we first got wind of his, and Dean Moxey’s, alleged transfers and hopefully now that the first domino has fallen things will begin to move apace as the squad is still too big and my mind still not good enough, even once the intriguing Moxey completes his move in the coming days.

Mile Sterjovski may have left and Tyrone Mears appears set to follow but there are still half a dozen players who shouldn’t be here much longer, hopefully they will begin to shift out over the course of the next week before preseason training starts on Wednesday (yes its time already!)

Photo: Action Images

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