The full list of Derby County players who will depart Pride Park this summer - Joe Ward features | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at the four permanent Derby County players whose contracts are set to expire at the end of this season.

Derby County's second season back in the Championship is going extremely well, with the club pointing in the right direction in the league table, just four years after they exited administration.

David Clowes' work as owner has rightfully been praised by supporters over the course of the last few seasons, and following an incredibly strong January transfer window, there is plenty of positivity to be found at Pride Park.

John Eustace's first year in charge of the Rams has gone just as well as he could have hoped, having rescued the side from the grips of relegation in 2024/25, before taking them up the table in his first full campaign in DE24 as head coach. Now, a play-off finish is a realistic dream for those associated with the East Midlands outfit.

However, with the season entering its final few months, there is not much time for those with expiring contracts to earn themselves a future at the club and Football League World has taken a look at the four Derby players whose contracts are set to expire this summer.

Callum Elder

Callum Elder has struggled with injuries throughout his time at Pride Park. Yet, this season, the left wing-back has been superb for the Rams, and he has been a real influence on the team's attacking prowess from out wide.

Derby's performances often match those of the Australian, and he has been a vital cog for Eustace throughout the last few months with Owen Beck's injury denying him a chance in black-and-white, while Craig Forsyth has taken more of a backseat this season due to his age.

Elder signed a three-year deal with the Rams when he made the switch from Hull City in the summer of 2023, and he is yet to put pen-to-paper on a new contract and could leave for free at the conclusion of this season.

Danny Batth

Danny Batth only joined Derby in the summer, as Eustace turned to his former club Blackburn Rovers for players who he trusts, but his time at the club could end sooner rather than later.

The veteran centre-back signed a one-year contract with the Rams, and he has been used as a bit-part player by the 46-year-old throughout 2025/26, owing to strong performances from Matt Clarke, Sondre Langas and Dion Sanderson.

Nevertheless, his performances have been relatively strong when he has been called upon, and his experience has been vital at times for his team.

There is no certainty that Batth will be handed a new deal before the summer, although he could still be a strong asset from off the bench.

Joe Ward

Joe Ward has been the surprise star for Derby this season, and with Max Johnston struggling with injury, the 30-year-old has found himself as Eustace's starting wing-back on the right side of the pitch.

Colloquially known as 'Becks' by his teammates, there are few players with a better delivery into the box than the former Peterborough United man. Therefore, it would not be a surprise to see the defender handed a new deal in the coming weeks.

Ward joined the Rams in 2023, and, similar to Elder, he has had plenty of injury issues, but he has maintained his fitness throughout this campaign, and he will be hoping to add more appearances to his name in black-and-white as his three-year contract enters its final months.

Richard O'Donnell

The fourth and final Derby player to be out of contract this summer is goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell, with the 37-year-old perhaps playing more in the Championship than he ever expected this season.

He kept a clean sheet in a dominant 5-0 win over Bristol City in January, with Jacob Widell Zetterstrom out with illness while second-choice goalkeeper Josh Vickers has been out with an injury.

O'Donnell signed a one-year deal with the Rams when he joined ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, and his performances warrant an extension to this contract.