REPORTING: In their quest for the Championship, Derby County signs a new two-year contract with a former Irish League prospect.
Darren Robinson, a former youth player with the Dungannon Swifts, has formally signed a new two-year deal with Championship-bound Derby County, extending his tenure until 2026.
Robinson left the Swifts in 2021 to join Derby, who were promoted to the English second division for the upcoming campaign after finishing second behind Portsmouth. Robinson also spent time in the Portadown youth system.
Although he was unable to add to his first team league appearances this season, the 19-year-old made his senior debut under Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney during the 2021–2022 campaign. Robinson has now signed a new contract, as his previous one was set to expire this summer.
Robinson, a Northern Ireland U21 international, made his league debut for the Swifts in May 2021 against Glenavon as a late substitution, a few days before his departure to England was officially revealed
“It was a very proud moment for me and my family (signing a professional contract), but I’m not just happy with that – I want to earn another one and keep going and keep working hard and keep making them and myself proud,” Robinson stated in remarks made during his first senior Derby preseason last summer. All I have to do is keep working toward that goal.
“I just need to keep working hard because I want to be like people like Conor Hourihane, Sonny Bradley, and James Collins who stepped up for their speeches and told us about their careers and how proud they are to have played at high levels and won trophies.”
A number of Stangmore Park’s successful alumni, including Conor Bradley, Sam Anderson, and Terry Devlin, have also moved across the ocean in recent years. Bradley went on to become a Premier League star at Anfield.
