Ex-Derby County star Tom Lawrence seals surprise move - Wrexham & Stockport County were linked | OneFootball

The Welshman has moved 'down under' in his next venture

Former Derby County playmaker Tom Lawrence has sealed a surprise move to Australian A-League side Perth Glory amid previous links to the likes of Wrexham and Stockport County.

The 31-year-old has been a free agent ever since his contract with SPFL giants, Rangers, reached its conclusion at the end of the 2024/25 season, and has now made an unexpected and exciting venture 'down under' in what is the first move outside of British football he has made during a respectable career.

Indeed, Lawrence was the subject of reported interest from his boyhood club following their record-breaking feat of three successive promotions which secured promotion from the National League, immediately through League Two and League One and straight into this season's Championship for the first time in 43 years under the management of Phil Parkinson and the well-documented financial backing of 'Hollywood' duo, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

However, a return to the second tier for the first time in three years following his Pride Park exit in May 2022 after the Rams' relegation - largely down to a 21-point deduction - hasn't materialised, and Lawrence has become the latest one-time EFL star to ply their trade in Australia, following in the footsteps of names such as his ex-Derby teammate, Jacob Butterfield.

During his time in DE24 after moving from East Midlands rivals, Leicester City, Lawrence would accumulate a steady total of 37 goals and 25 assists in 185 appearances under several managers and head coaches as Derby fell from their position as play-off and promotion contenders to a League One side in five years amid a well-documented backdrop of financial uncertainty.

In the past three years, the 23-time Welsh international had also endured mixed fortunes at Ibrox under three permanent managers in Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale and Phillipe Clement.

The free transfer would rack up a tally of 12 goals and seven assists in just 69 appearances for the Light Blues, who have continuously struggled to bridge the gap between themselves and 'Old Firm' rivals, Celtic, in recent times.

Throughout his final season in Glasgow, Lawrence was the subject of mass transfer interest from clubs south of the border, which was perhaps unsurprising when taking his previous Championship pedigree into account.

Prior to the expiration of his deal with Rangers, it was reported the club were holding out for a £5m fee for his services amid interest from eventual promotion winners Burnley and Sheffield United.

The likes of West Bromwich Albion, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough were also mooted as potential destinations for the experienced figure, before it was claimed in June that Stockport had joined the aforementioned race for his signature - alongside Wrexham - despite failing to join the Red Dragons in this season's Championship, losing to Leyton Orient in the play-off semi-finals.

Instead, whilst such transfer speculation cooled, Lawrence completed his move to Perth Glory on a one-year contract, where he will link up with former Queens Park Rangers midfielder, Luke Amos.

In his first interview with the club, the ex-Manchester United academy graduate also referenced a conversation with former Birmingham City icon, Stan Lazaridis, who is the 'football director' at HBF Park.

"I had a call with Stan Lazaridis and the Manager (David Zdrilic) and just listened to their passion for the club and where they want to go,” he said.

Lawrence has signed just over a week before the start of the A-League season, with Perth kickstarting their campaign against Wellington Phoenix on Saturday, October 18th.

Wrexham supporters will have very little regret over Tom Lawrence transfer decision

As previously mentioned, Wrexham were, arguably, the heaviest-linked club with Lawrence for quite some time, which, in no small part, was likely down to sentimental reasons aside from his well-documented technical ability.

However, those at the STōK Cae Ras are unlikely to have any regrets after a record-breaking transfer spend which has transformed Phil Parkinson's squad, particularly with deals for the likes of Lewis O'Brien, Josh Windass, Nathan Broadhead and Kieffer Moore in attacking areas.

Lawrence could have been lured back to his hometown as a result of their trajectory, which isn't too dissimilar to that of Stockport, albeit Dave Challinor's side are also in a strong position to challenge for promotion once again given their early-season form.