Former Liverpool youngster back in English soccer after securing $9M transfer
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Bobby Clark, who started his career at Liverpool, has completed his return to Derby on a four-year deal, ending his spell at Red Bull Salzburg to rejoin the club where he shone on loan last seasonBobby Clark has joined Derby on a permanent basis(Image: Getty Images)Bobby Clark maintains he will improve further while playing under John Eustace at Derby.The 21-year-old, who started his career at Liverpool before joining Red Bull Salzburg two years ago, completed what appeared an inevitable return to Pride Park on Monday when he signed a four-year contract as part of a £7 million ($9.3 million) deal – plus add-ons.That saw him conclude his spell with Salzburg and return to a club where he flourished on loan last season. The midfielder featured in a variety of roles and accumulated 45 appearances, netting four goals and providing four assists, all of which were sufficient to earn him a nomination as the Championship's Young Player of the Year.He also claimed the honor at the club's end-of-season awards ceremony, after which he expressed his ambition to return to Derby.
He repeated that sentiment after doing precisely that."If I'm honest, I didn't think it was done there," Clark told the Derby website on re-signing for the English club."I think I made that clear, and people at the club did as well. I think people could tell just the way I enjoyed being here, and when fans would ask us to stay and stuff, I'd obviously have to say, 'Oh, we'll see.'Clark started his career at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)"But I knew deep down that I wanted to come back."Just from the very beginning, obviously coming in from not playing much, I came in, the gaffer put trust in us, got us up to speed, and then I got the minutes I needed, and I enjoyed everything about the club, the team, everyone working for the club, the fan base."I thought it was the perfect destination for me."It's a big decision because I want to obviously reach my potential, so I need to pick my next step carefully, and this club definitely suits me the best – and the manager, like I said, gave us the trust last season and gave me the minutes I needed to take the next step and find my form in the Championship."I think being at Derby, I'll just get better and better."Since it's been closer to getting done, he's just had really good positive conversations with us.
He knows he can be the manager that helps me reach my potential and helps me grow as a player."I think everyone at the club knows where we want to be, we want to get Derby County to the Premier League."Obviously, we just fell short last season, but I'm sure we can build on it this season and hopefully get it done."