‘His last deal…’: Journalist explains why Derby County didn’t receive compensation for Louie Sibley

Louie Sibley closed the curtain on his Derby County career on Tuesday night, with further details now emerging about his move to Oxford United.

Louie Sibley became a trailblazer at Derby for the next generation of players looking to break into the first team at Pride Park.

He joined the club’s academy at the age of nine and 14 years later, he penned an emotional exit after making 173 appearances in the senior side.

The 22-year-old surprisingly decided against signing a new contract, despite playing 44 times last term, and has now signed for fellow Championship newcomers Oxford United.

In an interview with the club’s official website, he admitted that the appeal of joining the U’s was the chance to return to an advanced midfield role, saying: “I want to be a midfielder in those areas where I can get on the ball and be in the pockets. I feel I’ve got that quality to drive past players and I want to give everything for the shirt.”

For much of last season, he was used as a left-back by Paul Warne and will now be used as a midfielder in Des Buckingham’s system, a position he grew up playing.

Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Why Derby County won’t receive compensation for Louie Sibley

When a professional player under the age of 24 has been offered a new contract by the club and rejects that offer to sign for another club, compensation will be payable.

That would normally apply to Derby as Sibley meets that requirement however, there is a key reason why the Rams won’t receive compensation for his departure.

According to journalist Dominic Dietrich, the club can only receive compensation when the terms offered to the player are equal to or above what he was previously earning.

Sibley last signed a contract with the club pre-administration in 2020 when Mel Morris was in charge. At the time, the Englishman had just blitzed onto the scene at Pride Park, announcing his name to supporters in style with five goals in his first 11 Championship appearances, including a stunner on his debut against Blackburn Rovers.

That means Derby was likely paying a hefty salary in the second tier and one they’ve now chosen to shift off the wage bill instead of increasing.

Why Derby County didn’t offer Sibley more money

Information about Sibley’s salary hasn’t been disclosed, although Salary Sport estimate it to be around £8k-a-week, placing him as the third highest earner of current Derby players in the year 2023.

The reason the Rams have decided against offering him the same or a bigger salary is because Warne doesn’t see him playing more than a squad role next time.

Unlike some of the other players such as Eiran Cashin, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and now Ben Osborn, Sibley isn’t as important as that trio and perhaps the club didn’t feel the need to give him an increase in wages.

READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest

Whilst he played 44 times in all competitions last term and flourished at left wing-back, there is certainly a possibility to land an upgrade on the 22-year-old for less than what they were paying him.

Sibley’s departure did come as a shock to some at first however, after explaining the compensation rule, it’s understandable why they parted ways with their academy graduate.

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