Erik Pieters

Derby County completed the signing of experienced defender Erik Pieters towards the end of March 2025.

The 36-year-old arrived on a deal until the end of the 2024/25 campaign after training with Head Coach John Eustace’s squad in the weeks beforehand.

Pieters, a free agent since the conclusion of his short-term deal with Luton Town earlier in the season, was signed to add depth at left-back and centre-back for the remainder of the Sky Bet Championship season.

He has made over 550 club career appearances, including 304 in English football for Stoke City, Burnley and West Bromwich Albion.

From the Netherlands, Pieters’ professional career began in his homeland with Utrecht in 2006 and his performances across two seasons and 64 appearances caught the attention of the illustrious PSV Eindhoven.

Across five years at Philips Stadion, he played nearly 150 times in all competitions and won the KNVB Cup in 2012, when he played the full 90 minutes of their 3-0 final victory over Heracles Almelo.

Pieters also experienced continental football in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, before departing for Stoke City in the summer of 2013.

The Dutchman was a picture of consistency during his time with the Potters – playing at least 30 games in all five of his Premier League seasons with the club.

He joined Ligue 1 side Amiens for the second half of the 2018/19 campaign, before signing permanently with Burnley ahead of the following season.

Pieters continued to feature regularly in the top-flight and he made 56 Premier League appearances for the Turf Moor club before making the switch to West Bromwich Albion in 2022.

After two seasons at the Hawthorns, Pieters was a free agent ahead of the 2024/25 season before signing a short-term contract with Luton Town which ended in January.

On the international stage, the defender won 14 senior caps for the Netherlands between 2010 and 2014, while at age-group level he won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2007 and finished third at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2005.