Derby County hit Norwich City transfer bullseye and left Leeds United jealous | OneFootball

The Rams completed stellar business in the summer of 2015

Some players take time to fulfil their potential, and that is certainly the case for one man who was a hit during his time with Derby County.

At the start of the 2015/15 season, the Rams were aiming to build on their eighth-placed finish in the Championship, having gone close to promotion the season prior.

Paul Clement was the new man in the managerial hot seat, taking over from Steve McClaren, his first taste of management after assistant jobs at Real Madrid, PSG and Chelsea.

In the summer window, the likes of Darren Bent, Jacob Butterfield and Andreas Wiemann all arrived at Pride Park, but one man made a lasting impact after signing from Norwich City.

Bradley Johnson was a roaring success for Derby County

Action Images

Derby made a big move at the end of the summer transfer window by landing Bradley Johnson from Norwich for a record £6million.

The midfielder had been immense at Carrow Road the season before and was named as the club's Player of the Year as the Canaries were promoted to the Premier League, scoring 15 goals and assisting twice in the process.

However, after featuring mainly as a substitute in the opening month of the top-flight season, the Rams came in with an adequate offer, and the rest is history.

During his first campaign at Pride Park, the Englishman produced some encouraging returns, notching five goals and two assists, and although that was significantly short of his previous exploits, he played a central part in the club reaching the play-off semi-finals.

Johnson was praised for being the Rams' best signing that summer, and although not a flashy player, his leadership, physicality and versatility made him a stellar midfielder.

While he could not guide the club to the Premier League, he played a significant part in a strong Championship era, making 140 appearances for Derby and must be considered an excellent acquisition in the East Midlands.

Why Leeds United would have been frustrated by Johnson developments

Action Images

Johnson departed Elland Road on a free transfer in the summer of 2011, having made 140 appearances for Leeds, but at 24, he still had plenty of time to reach his peak.

However, the player could not agree a new deal with the Peacocks, with the Englishman placed on the transfer list after rejecting a final offer.

The Whites must have been immensely frustrated when Johnson departed on a free transfer, especially when he joined Premier League Norwich, in what felt like daylight robbery.

The youngster had played an integral part in Leeds' rebuilding years and was a regular starter in League One before replicating his fine form in the second tier in the 2010/11 season, missing just one league game.

Johnson made over 100 Premier League appearances for the Canaries, and while he probably would have liked to have remained in the top flight, he still did an admirable job on his return to the Championship with Derby.

While Leeds supporters may view what unravelled as irrelevant now, considering they are a Premier League outfit, there must have been a twinge of jealousy along the way as he forged a superb career at Norwich and then the Rams.