Derby County are close to signing free agency goalkeeper Mat Ryan, according to Voetbal International.
Derby County are ready for life again in the Championship after being promoted last time out.
The Rams are back in the second tier having finished inside the top two last season in League One. Paul Warne’s side are now tasked with establishing themselves back in the Championship.
Ryan, 32, spent last season playing for AZ Alkmaar in the top tier in Netherlands. He played 39 games for them across all competitions and kept 13 clean sheets in 29 league outings.
The Australian keeper is a free agent despite being offered a new deal to stay with the Dutch outfit and he has been linked with a move to the Rams for a while.
Now, the latest update suggests that move is close to completion with Ryan set to be another AZ Alkmaar player joining Derby County with Kenzo Goudmijn also on his way to the Championship.
A solid signing
Ryan has history in England. He was Brighton and Hove Albion’s goalkeeper for three and a half seasons in the Premier League before moving to Arsenal where he was a backup.
Ryan made well over 100 appearances for the Seagulls and was a solid starting option for them for quite sometime.
He still has a lot to give and would make an excellent addition for a Championship club. His expertise would boost the locker room, and his ability would only improve performance on the field.
Derby County’s signings appear to be leading them in the right path, albeit facing a challenging season.
Warne understands the challenges of the Championship, and it is hoped that he can use his previous experiences to steer his team clear of trouble this season.The Rams were contending at the top end of the division not long ago, but for the time being, they must focus on stabilising before moving on to challenge further up the Championship.
It will be interesting to observe how they adjust to the second tier. Their first game back in the second tier will be away to Blackburn Rovers next month.
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