Derby County star tipped for Pride Park exit - 'it's a shock to see him still here' | OneFootball

FLW's Derby fan pundit shares their thoughts on Ryan Nyambe still being at the club despite entering the final year of his deal and out-of-favour

Derby County had a tricky summer transfer window, and that has coincided with a tricky start to the 2026/27 Championship campaign.

Derby began the summer window promisingly, bringing both Bobby Clark and Sammie Szmodics back to the club permanently after successful loan spells, and keeping hold of the majority of their star assets.

However, the proposed and expected takeover of Saudi Arabian government official Turki Alalshikh collapsed just after the beginning of the campaign, scrapping a large portion of transfer plans.

As it happened, Derby would bring in the likes of David Ozoh, Henrik Meister, Mohammed Fuseini, Eiran Cashin, Ryan Hedges, and Alex Mowatt, but despite this, there remain gaps in the squad, not helped by their current injury crisis, as there is surprise among the fanbase that one player is still at that club.

Ryan Nyambe is still a Derby County player despite Reading loan and impending contract expiry

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Despite a lot of investment into the playing squad since Eustace took charge of Derby in February 2025, there remain gaps in the playing squad that haven't been sufficiently improved since his arrival.

One of those positions is right-back, with each of Joe Ward, Max Johnston, Sondre Langås, and Ryan Nyambe having operated in that position this season.

Ward has more often than not been the preferred choice, as Johnston, who joined from Sturm Graz last summer for around £3.5 million, has struggled to nail down a place in the side.

Langas is more of a centre-back, whilst Nyambe, 28, spent last season on loan with Reading in League One and is into the final 12 months of his deal at Pride Park.

The Namibian holds the record for most Championship games (212) without ever scoring a goal, and it would be fair to suggest that it is a surprise he is still with the club.

Football League World's Derby County fan pundit attributes Ryan Nyambe remaining at the club to the lack of quality they currently possess at right-back

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Football League World's Derby fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, has shared their thoughts on whether they are surprised Nyambe is still at the club despite his contract due to expire at the end of the season.

Shaun said: "Yeah, I don't think we'll see Ryan Nyambe past this season.

"I think maybe at the start of the season, it was a shock to see him still at the club after the transfer window finished, but probably looking at it, John Eustace still doesn't trust any of his right-backs, and that's probably a reason why he stayed.

"Already this season we've tried Max Johnston; I don't think John Eustace really trusts him right now. Defensively, he looks weak, and he hasn't found his feet at Derby at all. Joe Ward, again, whilst he's great going forward in the wing-back role he can put a good delivery in; defensively, he's another one that's just not up to Championship level, sadly.

"Ryan Nyambe, for all his faults, is probably the best defender out of the three, but he lacks kind of an offensive threat. So, at the moment, I just don't think he knows who his best right back is. He's even tried Langas and Sanderson there. So we've had about four or five different right backs this season, which isn't great.

"I think it shows the reason why Nyambe is still at the club, because maybe in some of the harder games away from home, where we're going to be under the cosh, I think Nyambe isn't a bad option because he's a better defender than the others.

"So whilst, yeah, it's a shock to see him still here because he was surplus to requirements last season, I can understand why John Eustace may have kept him because none of them has really kind of staked their claim for that right back position."

John Eustace must decide on his starting right-back at Derby County amid big Ryan Nyambe call

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Nyambe remaining with Derby beyond the summer window despite both Ward and Johnston in the squad would suggest that Eustace doesn't fully trust any of his current options in that position.

The Namibian has been a steady operator in the Championship throughout his career, but is limited in his ability, and given he spent last season on loan in the third tier with Reading, it's a surprise to see his still playing at this level.

Eustace's lack of faith in his current right-back options is troubling, and with Nyambe out of contract at the end of the season, a big call awaits the 46-year-old on whether to keep him around or let him go at the end of his deal.