FLW’s Derby County fan pundit discusses Louie Sibley’s future with the club with his contract set to expire
Louie Sibley’s contract with Derby County will expire this summer after the League One season ends.
The 22-year-old progressed through the Rams’ academy system before breaking into the first-team squad during the 2019-20 season.
He has been a regular in Paul Warne’s League One squad this season, appearing 38 times as the club earned promotion to the Championship after a two-year absence from the third tier of English football.
However, his contract is about to expire, which means he could leave Pride Park for free this summer if no extension is agreed upon.
With promotion secured, discussions will undoubtedly begin about whether or not to pursue an agreement with the versatile youngster.
| Louie Sibley – Derby County league goals and appearances (per Fbref.com) | ||||
| Season | Appearances (Starts) | Goals (Assists) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 11 (9) | 5 (2) | ||
| 2020-21 | 30 (10) | 1 (0) | ||
| 2021-22 | 26 (11) | 1 (0) | ||
| 2022-23 | 42 (26) | 3 (1) | ||
| 2023-24 | 38 (23) | 4 (3) | ||
Does Louie Sibley deserve a new Derby County contract?
According to FLW’s Derby fan pundit Shaun Woodward, Sibley’s recent performance warrants a contract renewal with the Rams.
Woodward believes Sibley’s move to wing-back has made him a more mature and well-rounded member of the Pride Par
“If you asked me about Louie Sibley three or four months ago, I’d probably say he needs a new challenge and time away from Derby,” Woodward told Football League World.
“But in the final few months of the season, he really stepped up.
“He scored some crucial goals, he played the wing-back position expertly, and he wasn’t diving in.
“He appears to have matured and grown as a player, making the correct decision more often than not now.
“We always knew he had a knack for scoring and could do something special, but he’s just been a little more consistent, a little more mature, and reads the game extremely well.
“I would give him a new contract.
“I think he deserves it after what he’s done in the last two or three months of the season.”
Derby County’s promotion success
Derby County secured promotion to the Championship with a 2-0 victory last Saturday.
Derby sealed second place in League One on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Carlisle United.
Max Bird and James Collins scored to help Warne’s team finish second, ahead of Bolton Wanderers.
However, the Whites dropped points in a 3-3 draw with Peterborough United, leaving the gap between the two teams at five points.
Derby will now prepare for life in the Championship, having earned their return to the second tier following two seasons in League One.
Louie Sibley’s contract will surely be a priority for Derby County
Sibley came through Derby’s academy system, so he has a strong connection to the club.
He contributed to the Rams’ promotion back to the Championship and now deserves to play a role in their upcoming survival attempt.
Derby will almost certainly want to extend his stay, especially given his recent performance.
It’s unclear how much the club will be able to spend this summer, but keeping Sibley also means they won’t have to spend any money replacing him in the squad, as he’d leave for free anyway.
GET MORE NEWS HERE