With the Championship’s welcome return just around the corner, the domestic season is set to resume for a large portion of the Irish international squad.
While the second tier of English football may not be appointment viewing for every Ireland supporter, Irish-heavy squads have often added an extra layer of intrigue to the promotion race.
The reality is that, with fewer Irish players making direct moves to the Premier League these days, promotion remains the most realistic route to the top flight for many. For supporters without an existing Championship allegiance, it also provides the perfect excuse to adopt a club for the season.
Last year, that club was arguably Ipswich Town. Their promotion saw no fewer than five senior Irish internationals become Premier League players. Although only Dara O’Shea, Jack Taylor and Kasey McAteer played significant roles in the campaign, it was still a notable boost for Irish representation at the highest level.
Among those who returned to Portman Road this summer after spells elsewhere were Chiedozie Ogbene, a regular in the Ireland setup, and Sammie Szmodics, who will feel he still has plenty to prove in a green shirt.
Ironically, it is Szmodics’ new club that could now become the Championship side Irish fans keep the closest eye on this season.
Last week, the attacking midfielder sealed a return to Derby County, where he previously scored three goals in 13 appearances during a loan spell. The move reunites him with manager John Eustace, the former Ireland coach who oversaw Szmodics’ remarkable 2023/24 campaign at Blackburn Rovers. That season yielded an astonishing 33 goals in all competitions – a feat he has not quite managed to repeat since.
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Interestingly, Ogbene has also been linked with a move to Pride Park by local media in both East Anglia and Derbyshire. Reports have suggested Jack Taylor could join him, with the midfielder potentially seeking another opportunity to fight for promotion to the Premier League.
Another Irish name mentioned is Dundee United wing-back Will Ferry. The recently capped 25-year-old has also attracted interest from clubs including Schalke and Anderlecht, as well as sides in the Czech Republic, meaning a move abroad may yet prove more appealing.
Perhaps the most intriguing rumour involves Gavin Bazunu. The 22-times-capped goalkeeper has endured a difficult period at Southampton and appears to have slipped down the pecking order. The Daily Echo recently identified him as a potential target for Derby, where he could compete with Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström for the number one jersey.
And while no reports have linked them to the Rams just yet, it would hardly be surprising if free agent Will Smallbone or former Derby academy graduate Festy Ebosele were eventually mentioned. If Derby continue collecting Irish internationals at their current rate, the speculation almost writes itself.
Derby already enjoy a surprisingly strong Irish following. An active supporters’ club regularly makes the trip to Pride Park, while Niall Horan is perhaps the club’s most famous Irish fan, with his father heavily involved in the supporters’ group.
Whether Derby gain many new supporters this season remains to be seen. But if even a handful of the Irish-linked transfers materialise, there will certainly be plenty of Irish eyes fixed on Pride Park as the Championship campaign unfolds.
For years, Irish supporters have kept a close watch on clubs such as Sunderland, Preston North End and Ipswich whenever a cluster of Irish talent arrived. Derby may not have expected to become the latest addition to that list, but they are edging closer to earning unofficial status as Ireland’s Championship team.
Should Eustace succeed in bringing several of these targets to Pride Park, Rams matches could become required viewing for Irish fans every weekend. Promotion may still be a long way off, but Derby are already winning one race – the battle to become the Championship club with the strongest Irish flavour.
