"It's really sad" - Claim made on Malcolm Ebiowei situation after Derby County exit | OneFootball

FLW's Rams fan pundit discusses Malcolm Ebiowei's career regression after he departed Pride Park three years ago

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

It's not been the most productive few years for Malcolm Ebiowei after he departed Derby County for Crystal Palace in 2022.

The winger burst onto the scene and excelled under difficult circumstances at Pride Park during the 2021/22 campaign, during which the Rams went into administration in September.

Aged just 18, Ebiowei made 16 Championship appearances, starting the final 11 games of the campaign and scoring once in a 2-0 win over Blackpool.

However, his contract was up at the end of that campaign, and he departed for free for Crystal Palace in the summer, signing a five-year deal.

Palace are well-renowned for developing bright, young, attacking stars, but it didn't quite work out for Ebiowei at Selhurst Park, turning out just five times for the club in his debut season, before failed loan spells at Hull City, Oxford United and RWD Molenbeek in Belgium followed.

Now, he's without a club after departing Blackpool just a month after signing, and FLW's Derby fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, is rather disappointed that someone who looked so promising has had his career derailed so quickly.

Derby County fan pundit comments on Malcolm Ebiowei's career post-Pride Park

Woodward expressed some shock and confusion at the situation surrounding Ebiowei's departure from Bloomfield Road, which currently leaves him without a club, as the 22-year-old was destined for big things after he left Pride Park a little over three years ago.

"It's a really strange one for me," he said. "Malcolm Ebiowei looked like an unbelievable talent when he first came through at Derby, like a lot of the youngsters that year did.

"I don't know whether that was because of the way the club was at the time, with our backs against the wall and having to play our youth, and the siege mentality meant that so many of these young players came in with no pressure on them, but the likes of Ebiowei, [Festy] Ebosele, they just thrived, and looked like they were going on to have massive futures."

Ebosele broke into the side regularly at the same time as Ebiowei, and also departed Pride Park at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, moving to Udinese.

He failed to score in 50 games for the Italian side before failing to hit the ground running at Watford last year, then joining Istanbul Basaksehir in January.

However, at least he's had the chance to prove himself, something which Ebiowei hasn't seemed to have, playing just 25 games since his last senior appearance for Palace in November 2022.

"It's really sad to see what has happened in the three years since he left Derby," Woodward continued. "He hasn't kicked a ball in anger."

"He's played 20-something games in the last three years, and for someone with his talent, something's not quite right. I'm not sure whether it's his mindset, work ethic, I don't know, but he's not found a home, and it's quite sad because I feel that if we didn't have to get rid of him or Ebosele, they'd have had bright futures at Derby.

"They seemed really settled and comfortable here, but for whatever reason, it hasn't worked since they left, which is a real shame.

"But, there's clearly a talented player in there, and I do really wish him the best."

Malcolm Ebiowei is currently searching for a new club

After some stop/start loan spells away from Crystal Palace, it seemed that Ebiowei was going to turn a corner at Blackpool, signing a two-year deal at Bloomfield Road at the start of August.

Just under a month, however, the 22-year-old had departed by mutual consent, with any further details surrounding his departure unknown. He made four appearances for the Tangerines, three of which came in this season's League One campaign.

Now, someone who looked like one of the next big things out of the Derby academy is without a club just three years after seemingly getting that big move to a Premier League side.

Questions will be asked as to where Ebiowei will go next. But if they can get the winger settled, playing regularly and enjoying his football like he was at Derby, they could be in for a steal on a free transfer.