Derby County Targets Leicester City Player for Loan Move
Derby County are looking to secure Leicester City goalkeeper Daniel Iversen on a loan deal as they gear up for their first season back in the Championship under the management of Paul Warne.
According to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon account, Derby County are keen on securing a loan move for Leicester City goalkeeper Daniel Iversen this summer.
Iversen, a Danish goalkeeper, was on loan at Stoke City for the second half of the 2024-25 season, during which he kept seven clean sheets in 18 Championship appearances. With Leicester’s promotion back to the Premier League, Iversen is expected to receive a wage increase. However, Derby are optimistic that they can cover enough of his salary to finalize the deal.
Paul Warne, the manager of Derby County, is preparing his team for their return to the Championship after achieving automatic promotion from League One last season. Despite Derby conceding just 37 goals in League One—the fewest in the division—they are searching for a new first-choice goalkeeper. This need arises because Joe Wildsmith, who kept 20 clean sheets in 40 appearances and won the Golden Glove award, was released at the end of the season. Additionally, 36-year-old Scott Loach retired, further depleting Derby’s goalkeeping options.
Derby has also been linked with a bold move for former Arsenal and Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, who spent last season at AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, keeping 13 clean sheets in the Eredivisie. However, signing Iversen on loan from Leicester would significantly bolster Derby’s defensive line, known for its resilience under Warne’s leadership.
Iversen, 26, has notable experience, having made 12 Premier League appearances for Leicester in the 2022/23 season, including matches against Manchester City and Liverpool, and a clean sheet against Newcastle United at St James’ Park. He demonstrated impressive form at the end of his loan stint with Stoke, keeping three consecutive clean sheets as the Potters concluded the season with three straight victories. Prior to his time at Stoke, Iversen was on loan at Preston North End, where he kept 13 clean sheets and was named Player of the Year in 2022 by both his teammates and supporters.
Paul Warne, with four League One promotions to his name from his time at Rotherham United and Derby, has a less stellar record in the Championship. He has been relegated at the end of every Championship season he managed, although he left Rotherham in 8th place after nine games in the second tier when he moved to Derby in 2022. Warne narrowly missed out on the play-offs in his first season at Derby but secured promotion by finishing second in the 2023/24 campaign, his first full season as the club’s manager.
Warne aims to build on this success in the upcoming Championship season and believes that signing Iversen can be instrumental in re-establishing Derby County in the second tier. The addition of Iversen would provide a strong foundation for Derby’s defense, helping them adapt to the challenges of the Championship and strive for stability and success in the league.
