Forward Kayden Jackson today became Derby County's second signing of the summer.
The versatile frontman, who can play in various attacking roles, has penned a two-year deal with the Rams following his departure from Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town.
Speaking to RamsTV after completing the move on Tuesday morning, Jackson says it didn’t take him long at all to decide Derby is where he wanted his future to be.
On how it feels to have signed for Derby…
It hasn’t really sunk in yet, to be honest. It feels like an age since we started discussions and as soon as I came here, saw the place and got a feel for the club, I knew it was somewhere that I wanted to be.
On his first impressions of Moor Farm…
I had no idea what the place and the facilities would be like, and it was a pleasant surprise. The facilities are top and, most importantly, the people within the place are great people as well.
On his conversations with Paul Warne…
I met the boss six or seven years ago and we’ve always kept in touch and congratulated each other when we’ve had success. It’s been a long time coming. He reached out when I left Ipswich and from then it was a case of: 'let’s get it done'. We’ve had a lot of conversations over the last three or four weeks but it’s always good speaking to him. As soon as I did the first time, I knew I wanted to be here.
On his long affiliation with Ipswich Town…
It didn’t really sink in that I’d left there until a week or two ago. I’d been there for six years so it felt like all I really knew. It was the right time to move on, though, for my career and for the club side of things as well. It was good that this deal could get sorted so quickly and to have somewhere to come to like this, leaving Ipswich to come to somewhere with as good facilities, if not better, is something I’m really excited about.
On how much he’s looking forward to integrating himself into the dressing room…
I spoke to a few of the lads recently when it looked like it was going to happen, and they spoke so highly of the dressing room and all the boys in there. I can’t wait to get involved in that.
On what fans can expect from him as a player…
Honesty on the pitch, hard work and pace. I’ll do my all to win games for the team and to create goals and score goals but also to defend as well. Defending starts from the front and if we want to achieve something special this year then everyone needs to be working as hard as each other. I’ll be going out there, giving my all and hoping to achieve something special.