Eiran Cashin likened a Derby County talent to Steven Gerrard after the player’s recent contract extension was announced.
Over the weekend, Derby County revealed their list of retained players, coming three weeks after securing their Championship spot for the upcoming season.
Six first-team players will leave the club, including the surprising departure of Joe Wildsmith, who received the League One Golden Glove award. Dwight Gayle, Conor Hourihane, Scott Loach, Korey Smith, and Martyn Waghorn will also exit Pride Park on free transfers.
Changes are also happening in the academy, with nine U21 players departing while midfielder Darren Robinson has signed a new two-year contract. Robinson, who joined from Dungannon Swifts in 2021, has progressed through the ranks and made his senior debut the following year. Although he hasn’t played in the league since the 2021-22 season, he’s been a regular in Premier League 2 and has been on the first-team bench 14 times.
Robinson expressed his joy on Instagram about his contract extension, stating, “Delighted to sign a new deal with @dcfcofficial. The hard work continues.”
His teammates flooded him with supportive messages, with Eiran Cashin comparing him to Steven Gerrard. Other senior teammates like Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Kane Wilson, Liam Thompson, and Louie Sibley also congratulated him on his new deal.
Derby County must retain their top talent
Darren Robinson is the latest in a long line of Derby County academy graduates aiming for success, and he is arguably in one of the best environments in the EFL to achieve it.
Despite recent struggles, the Rams have a strong track record of developing exceptional talent.
This summer, promising youngster Max Bird departed the club, joining a list of successful graduates like Louie Sibley, Eiran Cashin, Morgan Whittaker, Jason Knight, and Max Lowe.
To progress, Derby County must focus on retaining their emerging stars, a challenge given their League One status and the competition from bigger clubs.
Robinson’s new contract is a positive step, and manager Paul Warne will be keen to keep hold of Dajaune Brown, who has impressed during his excellent loan spell with Gateshead.
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