£5 million fee could see Derby County sign Crystal Palace midfielder

£5 million could be the price Derby County are prepared to pay for 21‑year‑old midfielder David Ozoh, who spent the last two seasons on loan from Crystal Palace at Pride Park, Derby’s ambition to finish in the Championship top eight after narrowly missing the play‑offs last campaign.

Derby head coach John Eustace has already bolstered the squad with free‑signings Charlie Taylor and Filip Bilibja, while Sammie Szmodics and Bobby Clark have returned after productive loan spells. Ozoh, who made 47 appearances for the Rams across all competitions in the previous two years, is now being linked with a permanent move.

Alan Nixon reported that Derby were willing to meet a £5 million valuation for Ozoh, a sum made possible by a large investment from Saudi government official Turki Alalshikh that is expected to close imminently. With that funding, the club is reportedly shifting from a straight purchase to a loan‑to‑buy structure to finalise the deal.

Ozoh’s time at Pride Park began under former manager Paul Warne, but his progress was hampered by recurring injuries. Despite this, Eustace has praised Ozoh’s technical ability and physical presence, saying the midfielder has impressed both on and off the pitch.

While £5 million is a significant outlay for any Championship side, the availability of Alalshikh’s investment reduces the financial risk. A third loan spell with an option‑to‑buy, or an obligation triggered by appearances, is being presented as the most sensible route for Derby this summer.

Supporters have voiced mixed opinions. One fan urged caution, citing Ozoh’s injury record, while another advocated for the return of academy graduate and Palace teammate Will Hughes to strengthen the midfield.

Action Images By James Pennington Published Aug 2, 2026, 10:57 AM GMT+1. James is a Stoke City fan, born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent. He graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a 1:1 (Hons) in Sports Journalism and began his career with Football League World. Add Us Summary Generate Like Follow Followed Thread Log Here Try Show Explain I’m Give Images Action This.