Former Liverpool man officially named Derby County Young Player of the Season
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Derby County have crowned a Liverpool academy graduate as their Young Player of the Season for 2025/26. Image Credits: Imago ImagesThe summer of 2024 felt like a quiet one in terms of academy departures at Liverpool but tucked between the bigger headlines was a deal that left a sour taste in the mouths of plenty of supporters.
Bobby Clark was sold to Red Bull Salzburg for £10 million in a move that always looked more about balancing the books than developing one of the academy’s most talented prospectsNearly two years on, that decision could be scrutinised all over again – because the 21-year-old has just been crowned Derby County’s Young Player of the Season for 2025/26.Clark joined the Rams on a season-long loan from Salzburg in August 2025. Under John Eustace at Pride Park, Clark has been playing regularly.
He’s racked up three goals and three assists in 41 Championship appearances this season.Those displays culminated in Tuesday night’s recognition at Derby’s End of Season Awards Dinner, where Clark was handed the Sammy Crooks Young Player of the Season trophy.Speaking to RamsTV after scooping up the award, Clark said:“I’m obviously buzzing to win this award, it’s been a long season with lots of hard work in it but I’m buzzing.”With the award being voted for by the fans, Clark said of the Derby County support:“They’ve been a big part of why I’ve enjoyed the season, they’ve stuck by us and obviously winning an award voted for by them means a lot.”“Since I came in, just being welcomed as quickly as I did and feeling at home as quickly as I did – and tops it all off winning this [award].”On how tough the Championship is as a league, Clarke said:“I don’t think you can really know what to expect coming into this league, but after the first 10 games I got a feel for it and realised it was a very tough league and what I had to do to succeed in it.”“Moving into a deeper role that I hadn’t really played before was massive for my development and my understanding of the game.”Clark was never going to displace Alexis Mac Allister or Ryan Gravenberch overnight, but plenty felt selling a homegrown midfielder of his profile for a relatively modest fee felt short-sighted.Watching him now pick up individual honours in the Championship will only strengthen that feeling. Bobby Clark Derby County