Derby County have this week added to their goalkeeping department with the addition of 27-year-old shot-stopper Josh Vickers.
Vickers has agreed to join the Rams on a three-year deal ahead of the expiration of his contract at Rotherham United at the end of June and will provide solid competition for Joe Wildsmith between the sticks.
Here, dcfc.co.uk takes a look at our latest addition.
Career Beginnings...
Born 1st December 1995, Vickers’ footballing career began at Premier League giants Arsenal. After coming through the Gunners’ Academy as a youngster, he was awarded his first professional contract in North London back in 2013.
Opportunities To Shine...
It was back in 2013 where he got his first real taste of first-team football, too. He was sent on loan to Canvey Island of the Isthmian League as an 18-year-old and made 30 league starts for the Gulls.
After impressing during his first loan spell away from the Gunners in 2013, he then climbed up the divisions and joined Concord Rangers of the National League South in 2014 - initially on a month’s loan in November before having that extended for the entire season soon afterwards.
New Beginning....
In August 2015, Vickers left Arsenal to join Swansea City on a permanent basis. After spending his first season with the Swans' Under-21s, he then joined League Two side Barnet in the summer of 2016 on a season-long loan deal and made his English Football League debut for the Bees against Cambridge United in August of that year.
The Swans released the shot-stopper in 2017 and he was picked up by Sky Bet League Two side Lincoln City. It was with the Imps where he began to cement himself as first choice and where he worked alongside Derby's now First Team Goalkeeper Coach Andy Warrington.
He played 21 times in the 2018/19 campaign as Lincoln claimed the
League Two title, the first promotion of his career, and he further
established himself in the side in 2019/20 in League One as he
registered 37 appearances before the season was halted by the COVID-19
pandemic.
Welcome Reunion...
In December 2019, Warrington left Lincoln to join Paul Warne's coaching staff at Rotherham United and less than a year later Vickers was making that same move.
For the last three seasons, that’s where he has remained, fighting for his place as number one alongside Viktor Johansson. During his time with Rotherham he was a promotion-winner from League One in 2021/22, as well as being part of their success in the Papa Johns Trophy. He also featured on a handful of occasions in the Championship last term.
He now reunites with Warrington, Warne and the rest of the coaching staff with the Rams ahead of the 2023/24 campaign as he looks to add another promotion to his CV.
