Ben Osborn became Derby County’s first signing of the summer last week.
Derby County are expected to bring in a number of fresh faces after winning promotion to the Championship.
However, their first arrival is one that has already spent a year at Pride Park previously.
Osborn was released by the Rams in 2003, before going onto join local rivals Nottingham Forest.
After 16 years at the City Ground, he moved to Sheffield United and played in the Premier League.
Their relegation last season resulted in Osborn’s surprise release, with a number of clubs eager to snap him up on a free transfer.
He eventually chose to re-sign for Derby, having spent the first nine years of his life in the city.
Ben Osborn is absolutely ‘buzzing’ to return to Derby County
After spending so long in Nottingham, the midfielder has admitted he never expected to return to Moor Farm.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Right, let’s ave it then shall we Rams?
“2 months ago I did not expect this to happen but things change in football very quickly!
“Loved my time up in Sheffield with the Blades, met some friends for life and created unbelievable memories. It’s a shame how it ended but I think it’s probably best for both parties.
“Thanks to the fans for all the support, I’m sure I’ll still see a few of you in the Leadmill at some point.
“I’m so excited for this next step in my career. It’s been 21 years since I last sported a Rams kit, so putting it on was emotional. Buzzing to start tomorrow and meet everyone.”
It’s a very promising signing for the Rams
Osborn has over 250 appearances in the Championship to his name, while he also racked up a further 61 in the top flight.
The 29-year-old is the experienced head that the Rams needed in preparation for their season in the second tier, while he also brings with him a lot of talent.
While he wasn’t a regular starter for United last term, his 24 games in the Premier League prove his quality and there is no denying that he could play for a team that is likely to finish much higher than Derby next season.
It could be a huge coup for Paul Warne and their transfer business now needs to continue at a similar level if they are to avoid a relegation scrap.
The post 'Let's ave it': Ben Osborn admits he didn't 'expect' to join Derby County in emotional message appeared first on Derby County News.