Ryan Hedges Joins Derby County on Free Transfer

Ryan Hedges has linked back up with John Eustace at Derby County, completing a free transfer to Pride Park.

The 31-year-old winger has signed a one-year contract with the Rams, with the club holding an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months.

Hedges departed Blackburn Rovers in the summer after his deal at Ewood Park expired, ending a four-year stint in East Lancashire. His final season there brought him under the management of Eustace, who took charge of Rovers during the 2024-2025 campaign before moving to Derby.

The former Wales international, capped three times by his country, has already had a head start on life in Derbyshire. He began training with the Rams squad last month and featured in pre-season friendlies against Alfreton Town and SC Freiburg, giving supporters an early glimpse of his work down the flanks.

Hedges arrives as Derby’s sixth signing of a busy summer window, adding experience and versatility to Eustace’s wide options. His career has taken him through a varied route: spells in Scotland with Aberdeen, where he gained Europa League and Conference League minutes, and earlier stints in England with Barnsley, Yeovil, Leyton Orient and Stevenage Borough.

Now he steps into a new chapter, back under a familiar manager, in a squad being steadily reshaped for the challenges ahead.