Goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith has expressed his delight at joining Derby County on a two-year deal after his contract with boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday came to an end.
The 26-year-old shot-stopper spent 14 years at Hillsborough after coming through the ranks, but he has elected for a new opportunity and has signed a contract with the Rams until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Speaking to RamsTV after putting pen-to-paper on his contract, the goalkeeper admitted the opportunity to join Derby was too big to turn down and believes he is ready for a new challenge.
On Signing For Derby…
It’s a great feeling to get something done. It’s the first time I’ve been in this situation where I’ve not been at a club and out of contract, so to get something done so soon after the last contract finished, and being at a club like Derby, I feel like it’s a great opportunity to come in here, enjoy my football and help this team get back to where it needs to be.
What Attracted Him To Join Derby…
First and foremost, working with Jason Pearcey and the gaffer here. I’ve known Jason for a while now and I’ve been in contact with him since I was about 15. He tried to sign me up for a scholarship but I’d already signed by Sheffield Wednesday. We have been in touch ever since, whether that be playing in the Under-18s, Under-23s and up into first team. I was speaking with him in the summer and got a positive vibe straight away in terms of him wanting me to come into the club and work with him and the lads. I feel it’s a great opportunity to come here and showcase my abilities and help this club to get back to where it needs to be. The size of the club, you can see the stadium and training ground, it’s a different level and it shouldn’t be at this level so our objective is to get straight back to where we want to be which is pushing on promotion this year and then pushing on again. The set-up is Premier League standard.
On The Club’s Takeover…
It's great for the fans for the club to be saved. The history and everything is intact now and the takeover going through just puts a smile on everyone’s face. There is positivity around the place which is good for the players to feed off and hopefully we can take that into the start of the season and have a good start.
Stepping Out Of His Comfort Zone…
I’m 26 and had been at Sheffield Wednesday since I was 12 years old and you are going into a place where you’ve gone into work that long with the same four walls. I just felt like I needed a different challenge and I’ve got that in signing for Derby. I feel like the opportunity here is massive and that is one of the reasons for signing. The new challenge and getting out of my comfort zone is something brand new to me and I just feel like I can thrive under that new feeling and kick on.
Kicking On And Establishing Himself As The Club’s Number One…
My career has been mixed so far and that is due to different circumstance whether that be injuries or different managers coming in. Everyone has different opinions and that’s the journey I’ve been on and I take what I can from that in experiences and hopefully I can use that as motivation for wanting and striving to get better and establishing myself as a number one goalkeeper. I feel the opportunity here is for me to do that and that was one of the main reasons for signing here, along with the club’s ambitions and working with Jason Pearcey and the group of lads here. I feel there is a great opportunity for a promotion push and the style of football is attractive. It ticks all the boxes and it’s definitely an exciting time.