Defender Curtis Davies has today become Derby County’s first signing of the close-season.
The centre-back, 32, has joined the Rams from fellow 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship rivals Hull City for an undisclosed fee.
The former England Under-21 international has put pen-to-paper on a two-year contract, with the option of a third.
Davies is Gary Rowett’s first signing since his appointment as manager in March and further strengthens the defensive options available to the 43-year-old ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.
The defender also brings vast experience and know-how with him to Pride Park Stadium.
He has racked up 464 games in club football to date and also wore the captain’s armband at a number of his previous clubs, including in the Premier League and also an FA Cup Final as recently as three years ago.
Davies also boasts experience of gaining promotion to the Premier League from the Championship, having been part of the Hull side that reached the top flight in the 2015/16 campaign via the play-offs.
Leytonstone-born Davies came through the youth ranks at Luton Town and made his professional debut during the 2003/04 season.
He went to join Premier League West Bromwich Albion in August 2005 for a fee of £3 million.
A move across the Midlands and back to the top flight followed in the summer of 2007 as he linked up with Aston Villa on a season-long loan deal, which was eventually turned permanent in July 2008 for a reported fee of around £8 million, before he moved to the Villans’ arch rivals Birmingham City in January 2011 for an undisclosed fee via a brief loan spell at Leicester City.
His next stop was a move back to the Premier League with Hull City in the summer of 2013 for a fee of just over £2 million and, after a fine 2013/14 season which saw him captain the side in their FA Cup Final defeat to Arsenal, a game in which he scored, he was named as the Tigers’ Player of the Season.
Davies played a key role in 2015/16 to lead Hull straight back to the top flight as they achieved promotion following a 1-0 Play-Off Final victory against Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley Stadium.
Davies was capped three times by England at Under-21 level between 2006 and 2007 against Holland, Norway and Spain. He also received a full international call-up under Fabio Capello, but failed to make an appearance.
His current record in club football has seen him make 464 appearances and score 26 goals.
The club would like to thank the Sport First Agency for their help and support in completing the transfer.
