Jeff Hendrick

Derby County completed the signing of midfielder Jeff Hendrick in March 2025.

A graduate of the Derby County Academy, Hendrick returned to the club where he started his professional career on a deal until the end of the 2024/25 season.

The 33-year-old had been a free agent since departing Newcastle United last year and brought added depth and experience in midfield for the Sky Bet Championship run-in.

Hendrick has made over 400 club appearances during his professional career, with 214 of those coming during his first spell at Pride Park Stadium, in addition to his 79 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

Born in Dublin, Hendrick’s journey with the Rams began back in 2008 when he joined the Academy as a scholar from St Kevin’s Boys in his home city.

His first involvement with the Men’s First Team came as an unused substitute on the final day of the 2009/10 season, before he made his senior debut in the latter stages of the following campaign against Burnley at Pride Park.

Progress was rapid and as a teenager, he began 2011/12 as a key member of Nigel Clough’s squad, with his credentials rubber-stamped when he scored an iconic late winner for the ten-man Rams against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on just his fifth start for the club.

His consistency was rewarded with the Sammy Crooks Young Player of the Season award and by the start of the 2012/13 campaign, Hendrick was firmly established and he missed just 283 minutes of league action before going on to form part of a formidable midfield that helped Derby to the Championship play-off final in 2014.

He scored 11 goals and recorded 12 assists across the following two seasons and his form attracted the attention of Burnley, who moved to make him their club-record signing in the summer of 2016.

Sean Dyche instantly made him an integral part of his midfield and he caught the eye with his continued penchant for the spectacular – winning the club’s Goal of the Season award for 2016/17 and 2018/19.

After 122 Premier League appearances for the Turf Moor club, he moved to Newcastle United in 2020 and he played 23 times for the Magpies in his debut campaign before embarking on a series of loan spells, with Queens Park Rangers, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday.

At international level, Hendrick represented the Republic of Ireland at every level from Under-15s to Under-21s, before making his senior debut against Poland in 2013.

He featured at UEFA Euro 2016 and has scored twice in his 79 games for his nation.