Exclusive: Derby County plot transfer raid for ace who played at FIFA World Cup | OneFootball

Derby County are one of a number of clubs eyeing a move for Finn Surman of the Portland Timbers.

Derby County are eyeing a deal for a new centre-back that plied his trade at the FIFA World Cup this summer, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

The Rams are looking to push on in the Championship this coming season after their eighth-placed finish under John Eustace in 2025-26 - which would have got them into the play-offs for the upcoming campaign given the extended format of the competition.

Derby County have completed minimal transfer business so far this summer

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It was a far better result than the 19th place that County finished in during the 2024-25 season though, and their natural progression could be helped with the imminent investment deal being completed by Saudi sports mogul Turki Alalshikh.

Despite the new season approaching this coming weekend, with round one of the EFL Cup taking centre stage, Derby haven't been massively active in the summer window, with just three new faces arriving - one of those being the familiar presence of ex-Liverpool midfielder Bobby Clark, who signed on a permanent basis following last season's loan deal.

You'd expect Derby's business to heat up though in the final four weeks of the window, and they are eyeing up a new centre-back to add to their current crop, which includes Sondre Langas, Matt Clarke and Dion Sanderson.

Derby County eyeing move for New Zealand World Cup star

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FLW understands that County are one of the clubs on British shores to be eyeing up a move for Portland Timbers star Finn Surman, who starred for New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup this summer.

The All Whites were knocked out of the groups despite a promising start against Iran, where new Swansea City recruit Elijah Just scored twice in a 2-2 draw with Iran, before defeats at the hands of Egypt - a game which Surman scored a header in - and Belgium sent them back across the Pacific Ocean with just one point.

Surman though has gained admirers for his performances on the world's biggest stage, and Derby are now one of a number of clubs (but the only named one) to be keen on striking a deal for the 22-year-old's services.

The defender currently plays for MLS franchise Portland Timbers, where he's been since 2024 after moving from Wellington Phoenix of the Australian A-League, and aside from his 22 national team caps, Surman has also racked up 58 outings for the Oregon-based outfit.

6ft 3in Surman - whose contract runs out at the end of the year, although there is a one-year option in his club's favour - has played in all 18 of Portland's MLS games so far in the 2026 season, but he may not have much longer left at Providence Park, where he is managed currently by ex-QPR and Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes.

Finn Surman's birthplace hands Derby County a simplified transfer process

Whilst transfers for overseas players can sometimes be complicated, Derby could sign Surman very easily due to the fact he is a UK national, despite representing New Zealand.

Surman was born in the Welsh capital of Cardiff in 2003, although he was raised in New Zealand, which is why he chose to represent them at national team level.