MX23RW : Friday, December 20 17:21:22| >> :600:189931:189931:

Brighton's Matt Clarke joins Derby on season-long loan

Brighton's Matt Clarke joins Derby on season-long loan
© Reuters
The 22-year-old was only signed by Brighton in June.

Derby have signed central defender Matt Clarke on a season-long loan deal from Brighton.

The 22-year-old is expected to go straight into the Rams squad for their opening game of the season against Huddersfield on Monday night.

Clarke joined Brighton from Portsmouth on a four-year deal earlier this summer for a reported fee of £3.5million, becoming Graham Potter's first signing as Albion boss.

However, Potter sees the best way for him to continue his development is in the Championship with the Rams.

Clarke becomes the third new arrival at Pride Park after midfielders Graeme Shinnie and Kieran Dowell joined the club earlier in the summer.

Derby are also expected to complete the signing of Krystian Bielik from Arsenal in the next 48 hours for what PA understands could be a club record fee.

The 21-year-old, who can play at centre-back or as a defensive midfielder, could cost as much as £10million with the add-ons included in the deal – eclipsing the £8million the Rams paid Watford for striker Matej Vydra in 2016.

ID:366768: cacheID:366768:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1916:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of Derby County's Pride Park Stadium taken February 2013
Read Next:
Derby 'want Bachmann from Watford'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Broncos
27-34
Chargers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd21145230111945
2Leeds UnitedLeeds21126337152242
3Burnley2111822681841
4Sunderland21117332171540
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2011452517837
6Middlesbrough21104735251034
7Watford2010462926334
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2171132416832
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds218582630-429
10Swansea CitySwansea217682322127
11Bristol City216962626027
12Norwich CityNorwich216873632426
13Millwall206772018225
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Coventry CityCoventry216692730-324
16Preston North EndPreston2141162127-623
17Stoke CityStoke215792328-522
18Queens Park RangersQPR2141072127-622
19Luton TownLuton2164112337-1422
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2046102133-1218
21Cardiff CityCardiff2046101932-1318
22Portsmouth193882134-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2045111942-2317
24Hull City2137111930-1116


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!