Dion Sanderson sends final message to Birmingham City fans after Derby County move | OneFootball

Defender Dion Sanderson has shared a message with Birmingham City supporters after completing a permanent move to Derby County.

Defender Dion Sanderson has taken to social media to share an emotional message with Birmingham City supporters after completing a permanent move to Derby County.

After two previous loan spells at the club, Sanderson joined Birmingham from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a permanent basis in July 2023 for a fee of £2 million, and he was immediately handed the captain's armband by then-manager John Eustace.

However, Sanderson fell out of favour last season following the Blues' relegation to League One, and he made a temporary move to Blackburn Rovers in January, where he briefly reunited with Eustace before his departure to take over at Derby the following month.

After Rovers decided against triggering their £1 million option to sign Sanderson at the end of his loan deal, the 26-year-old linked up with Eustace for a third time as he joined Derby on a season-long loan in the summer, and he has scored one goal in 23 appearances for the East Midlands outfit so far.

It had been reported in recent weeks that the Rams had agreed a £350,000 deal in principle for Sanderson, and ahead of the January transfer window opening, it was announced on New Year's Eve that the defender had sealed his full-time switch to Pride Park.

The exact fee Derby have paid for Sanderson has not been revealed, but it is believed to be a six-figure sum, and he has signed a two-and-half-year contract to keep him at the club until the summer of 2028.

Dion Sanderson issues farewell Birmingham City message after completing Derby County switch

It was not too long ago that Sanderson was Birmingham's captain and one of the first names on the team sheet, but it is fair to say that he has never been part of manager Chris Davies' plans since his arrival last summer.

With Davies preferring the likes of Christoph Klarer, Ben Davies and Krystian Bielik ahead of him, Sanderson barely featured for the Blues in the first half of last season prior to his move to Blackburn, and his last appearance for the club came all the way back in December 2024 in an EFL Trophy victory at Exeter City.

After the arrivals of Phil Neumann and Eiran Cashin in the summer, Sanderson was pushed even further down the pecking order at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, and it was little surprise to see him reunite with Eustace at Derby.

Sanderson has performed well for the Rams this season to help them emerge as outside play-off contenders in the Championship, and after completing his permanent move to Pride Park, the defender described it as "exciting and a massive honour" to join the club on a full-time basis.

However, Sanderson also had a message to share with supporters of his former club Birmingham after his departure was confirmed, writing on his Instagram story: "Thank you guys for the memories and support you had shown me over the years, wishing you all the best blue noses. KRO."

Birmingham City will have mixed Dion Sanderson feelings after Derby County exit

With Sanderson surplus to requirements at Birmingham and Derby keen to free up an additional loan spot in their squad, it makes sense for all parties to complete a deal during the January transfer window.

Sanderson starred for the Blues during his two loan spells, but he failed to live up to the same standards after his £2 million permanent move, and he was the captain of the club as they were relegated from the Championship in the 2023-24 season.

As Sanderson was barely used by Davies, he has not had much of a chance to make up for his role in Birmingham's demise, and as such, he departs St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park with something of a mixed legacy.