What Ebou Adams has said to Derby County fans in emotional exit message as Portsmouth transfer sealed | OneFootball

Ebou Adams' permanent move to Portsmouth has been completed, and the midfielder has bid a fond farewell to Derby County on social media.

Ebou Adams has taken to social media to say goodbye to Derby County after his permanent move to Portsmouth was confirmed on Friday afternoon.

The Gambia international made his way to Pride Park in January 2024 on a loan spell until the end of the campaign as the Rams pushed for promotion back to the Championship after suffering relegation in 2022.

Adams made an instant impact in the East Midlands, and after helping to engineer a second-place finish in League One, he joined the club permanently from Cardiff City that summer as he continued to grow as a fan favourite, eventually becoming captain.

However, the arrival of Lewis Travis in August 2025 saw the 30-year-old lose the armband at Derby, and with Oscar Fraulo the latest addition in DE24, a deal was agreed with Portsmouth, and he has departed his beloved Rams - leaving with a loving message.

Ebou Adams pens heartfelt message as Derby County exit confirmed

Adams made 89 appearances for the East Midlands outfit before leaving the club, and he captured the hearts of supporters thanks to his incredible effort on the pitch and beaming smile off it.

While few would have expected his departure at the start of the season, in recent weeks it has perhaps become more apparent that his time at Derby was coming to an end. Nonetheless, he took to Instagram on Friday to pay tribute to his now former club.

He wrote: "I never saw my initial spell here as a loan, this was immediately my home and I was so happy that it was made permanent in the summer of 2024. Promotion, cementing our place in the Championship for this season and also being made captain 🤍🖤🐏.

"Thank you my teammates, the staff I’ve worked with over the past 2 years [who are] now my family 🤍🖤. The fans - you will always hold a special place for me. Thank you for accepting me as one of your own. I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.

"Wishing Derby County nothing but the best, Ebou Adams 🫡🐏🤍🖤," Adams concluded.

Ebou Adams had plenty of big Derby County moments - it will have been a hard goodbye

With Adams now preparing for life at Fratton Park, Rams supporters will be keen to look back at some of his finest moments in black-and-white, starting with his debut against Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

The defensive midfielder was incredible in South-East London, playing 71 minutes in the 1-0 victory and picking up the player of the match award. He went on to score his first goal for Derby against Blackpool just a couple of months later, firing in an impressive volley to earn all three points for his side.

He scored six goals last season as the Rams avoided relegation on the final day of the season, including a strike against his new club in a 4-0 victory in December 2024. Adams was named as the club's Player of the Season, and his place in the team looked untouchable.

While this campaign has not been the easiest for The Gambian star, he still captained the side on multiple occasions as Travis struggled with injury, and he will forever be a cult hero at Pride Park despite falling out of favour under Eustace.