Jake Rooney

Centre-back Jake Rooney joined Derby County on a permanent basis in August 2022.

The defender enjoyed a spell on trial with the Rams, playing for the first team and Under-21s, ahead of the start of the 2022/23 season before putting pen-to-paper.

Rooney made his senior debut for Derby in Round One of the Carabao Cup shortly after signing, playing in a holding midfield role as the side ran out 2-1 winners at Mansfield Town.

He is the cousin of former Derby manager and player Wayne Rooney and he progressed through the Burnley youth ranks after joining the Clarets at the age of 14.

He was named as their Youth Team Player of the Year for the 2020/21 campaign and he kicked on to establish himself in their Premier League 2 side prior to being out of contract at Turf Moor in the summer of 2022.

Despite initially joining as part of the Under-21s, Rooney impressed greatly from the off and was quickly promoted as a regular member of the first-team.

His versatility allowed him to slot in at several positions including centre-back right-back and central midfield across his 20 first-team appearances.

Rooney’s performances earned him a new three-year contract prior to the 2023/24 season getting underway.

A positive start for the new campaign for Rooney was derailed when he suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage to his right knee during the September fixture with Bolton Wanderers.

That injury would unfortunately end his season but he remained a key figure around the club in the side's promotion-winning season back to the Championship.