Breaking News: Derby County nearly sneaked £100m+ jackpot with the help of Chelsea and Liverpool
Derby County came agonisingly close to securing a financial windfall worth over £100 million, with an unlikely helping hand from Premier League giants Chelsea and Liverpool. The Championship side, long removed from the top-flight spotlight, watched with bated breath as events beyond their direct control unfolded in dramatic fashion.
The Rams, who have been rebuilding steadily under manager Paul Warne, had a vested interest in the progression of Chelsea and Liverpool in domestic and European competitions this season. While the club’s own performances have drawn praise in League One and resulted in promotion to the Championship, the possibility of a massive cash injection was tied to sell-on clauses and conditional payments structured into past transfer deals.
At the heart of the potential windfall were past academy graduates and former players whose careers have soared at top-flight clubs. Most notably, Kaide Gordon, a product of Derby’s youth system, made a high-profile move to Liverpool in 2021. Though the initial transfer fee was modest, the structure of the deal included significant add-ons related to appearances, goals, and Liverpool’s success in domestic and European competitions.
Similarly, Derby had high hopes pinned on other players with connections to Chelsea, either via transfers or training compensations. As both clubs pushed deep into the latter stages of their respective competitions—Chelsea in the FA Cup and Liverpool in both the Premier League title race and UEFA Europa League—Derby stood to benefit indirectly from any trophy wins and increased player valuations.
Sources close to the club revealed that if specific performance clauses had been triggered, Derby would have been entitled to cumulative payments exceeding £100 million. For a club that only recently emerged from financial administration and fought its way back from the brink, such an injection would have transformed its trajectory.
However, fate was not entirely on Derby’s side. Despite spirited campaigns, Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals, and Liverpool fell short in both the Premier League and Europa League. These results meant that key clauses—such as those tied to trophy wins or a certain number of appearances—remained inactive.
Nonetheless, the situation has reignited conversations around the importance of strategic academy management and smart transfer negotiations. Derby’s model of nurturing talent and embedding sell-on clauses is now seen as a blueprint for sustainability among lower league clubs.
Fans have reacted with a mix of pride and what-ifs. “It’s bittersweet,” said lifelong supporter Andy Taylor. “To know we were that close to such a massive payday just by doing the groundwork years ago—it’s frustrating, but it also gives us hope for the future.”
Although the elusive jackpot did not materialise this time, Derby County’s close call underscores the interconnected nature of football’s financial ecosystem. With promising young talent still developing within the club’s ranks, and top teams continuing to scout from below, the Rams may yet see such clauses come good in the seasons to come.
