A reinvigorated Curtis Davies says he has only joined Derby County to ‘win and achieve things’ after he completed his move from Hull City on Wednesday morning.
The 32-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-year deal, with the option of a further year, to become the Rams’ first signing of the close season.
The former West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Birmingham City centre-back is also the first player to join the club since Gary Rowett became manager in the middle of March.
After four memorable years at Hull, who he captained to an Emirates FA Cup Final and played three years in the Premier League with, Davies admitted he was ready for a ‘new challenge’ and he feels the one posed at Derby matches his own burning ambitions.
“I’m very excited,” he told RamsTV in his first interview after signing for the club.
“I spent four years with Hull; four years that I really enjoyed through the highs and the lows. I felt, though, that it was time for a new challenge for myself.
“It was all very quick but, the opportunity to play for this manager in a team which is very strong, I believe it’s a good opportunity for us as a team to get back into the Premier League.
“We’ve seen what Derby can do and I believe, under this manager for a full season, the squad that we’ve got is more than capable of promotion or at least the play-offs.”
Whilst he maybe 32-years-old, Davies is far from considering himself to be in the twilight of his career.
Having spent a significant chunk of his professional football life plying his trade in the Premier League since breaking onto the scene as a 20-year-old, he very clearly only has eyes on returning to the top flight – this time in a Rams shirt.
On a personal note, he feels the opportunity to play for a club like Derby will ‘reinvigorate’ him and is the best move possible to further his career.
He added: “I believe that, at my age, people start thinking that you want to wind down and look for a bit of security but that is not the case with me; if I’d have wanted that, I would have stayed at Hull.
“I wanted to come here to try and win and achieve things because ultimately, every single one of us want to play in the Premier League.
“I’m no different, I’ve played there a lot which means I want the chance to play there again. I’ve had a taste and now I want a few more years in the sun, as they say.
“This is an opportunity for me to reinvigorate myself.
“I just felt that it was time. I know that I’ve enjoyed my time at Hull and there are a lot of people that I’m going to miss but I want to do the best for my career and I believe that is with Derby County.”
