Derby County (foto: Getty Images)
Derby County boasts one of the best youth academies in England, yet the club continues to battle for survival in the Championship.
The former club of Timi Max Elšnik is now searching for a new investor.
Derby County is one of the most historically significant English football clubs. As one of the twelve founding members of the English Football League in 1888, the club has spent the vast majority of its 140-plus-year history in the top two tiers of English football. Derby were crowned English champions twice (1972, 1975), won the FA Cup in 1946, and reached the European Cup semi-finals in the 1972/73 season. The legendary Brian Clough also spent a successful period at the club. Given its history and stature, Derby County belongs at least in the top two English leagues, if not in the Premier League.
However, times have been tough for Derby County. Just six years ago, they were on the brink of reaching the Premier League. In May 2019, they faced Aston Villa in the play-off final at Wembley. Led by Frank Lampard and featuring veterans like Ashley Cole and Tom Huddlestone, as well as loaned Chelsea youngsters Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori, Derby narrowly lost 2-1. While Villa ascended to the top flight and are now competing in the Champions League, Derby spiraled down to the third tier and nearly faced bankruptcy.
That same year, Derby’s U18 team defeated Arsenal in the national youth championship final. From that Arsenal squad, only Bukayo Saka progressed to the senior team. Meanwhile, six players from Derby’s youth team eventually played for the first team, while two moved on to Middlesbrough and Belgian side Gent before making their senior debuts.
Derby County has one of the best youth academies in England, and this played a crucial role in saving the club from financial ruin. During their desperate bid for promotion to the Premier League, the club spent recklessly and found itself on the verge of bankruptcy in 2021. Relegated to League One, they were saved by local businessman David Clowes. During this turbulent period, Derby relied heavily on their homegrown players, as financial resources were scarce.
The success of the academy in developing and selling players proved key to the club’s financial survival. Notable academy graduates include right-back Jayden Bogle (now at Leeds), Irish international Festy Ebosele (Istanbul Basaksehir), Malcolm Ebiowei (Crystal Palace), and Liam Delap, who joined Manchester City’s academy in 2019 and is now a leading striker at Ipswich. In January, Brighton purchased defender Eiran Cashin—a key member of the 2019 youth championship-winning squad—for £9 million. Timi Max Elšnik, a former standout at Aluminij and Olimpija, also developed in Derby’s academy between 2015 and 2017.
Throughout the club’s financial crisis, the academy kept Derby County afloat. Homegrown players helped steer the club through one of its darkest periods. Despite competing in League One, Derby’s academy retained its prestigious Category One status, making it the lowest-ranked club in England with such a highly-rated youth system. Their U16, U18, and U21 teams all compete at the highest levels.
In the 2023/24 season, Derby finished second in League One and returned to the Championship. However, they are currently struggling to maintain their second-tier status. Last season, the club recorded a financial loss of approximately £14 million, raising questions about whether maintaining a Category One academy—which costs around £6 million annually—is sustainable.
Critics overlook the fact that without the academy, Derby might not exist at all. The club’s reckless spending in pursuit of the Premier League nearly led to collapse—a fate that has befallen many clubs in the Championship and League One. The academy is deeply ingrained in Derby’s identity and remains one of its key selling points for potential investors.
David Clowes is now prepared to sell his stake in Derby County. When negotiating with potential buyers, he can highlight the club’s illustrious history, loyal fan base, 30,000-capacity stadium, and—most importantly—its renowned academy, which has consistently produced players for the highest levels of football.