Derby County have increased their midfield options for the forthcoming 2019/20 season with the signing of Everton’s Kieran Dowell.







The in-demand attacking midfielder has joined the Rams on a season-long loan deal from the Premier League outfit.

Dowell, who is an England Under-21 international, completed the formalities of his switch earlier today and has already teamed up with Derby’s players at their training camp in Florida.

The 21-year-old, who secured promotion to the Premier League last season during a loan spell at Sheffield United, is new manager Phillip Cocu’s first signing following his appointment last Friday.





Cocu commented: “I am very happy that Kieran Dowell has chosen to join us on loan for the season.

“He is an exciting young player with a lot of potential, and I am looking forward to working with him.”

Dowell, a product of Everton’s youth system, is highly thought of at Goodison Park and was part of the England Under-20 squad which won the World Cup in 2017.

His professional debut came in the 2014/15 season in the Europa League and he went on to make his Premier League bow, and first-ever career start, in the following campaign during home wins against AFC Bournemouth and Norwich City.

Dowell spent the 2017/18 campaign out on loan to gain first-team exposure and he impressed in a season-long stay across the East Midlands at Nottingham Forest.

He scored ten goals in 43 appearances during his time at the City Ground, including a hat-trick in a 3-2 victory away to Hull City in October 2017.





Dowell made two appearances in the Carabao Cup at the beginning of last season for Everton, before heading out on loan to Sheffield United in the January Transfer Window.

The Blades finished in second spot to secure promotion to the Premier League via the automatic route, with Dowell playing a key role.

He made 17 appearances in total and scored twice, one of which proved to be crucial in the race for promotion in a 1-0 success at West Bromwich Albion.

Dowell has made 65 appearances in club football, scoring 12 goals.





On the international stage, Dowell has represented England at youth level from the Under-16s through to the Under-21s.

He played a key role as England’s Under-20s lifted the Under-20 World Cup in 2017 and also won the 2018 Toulon Tournament with the Three Lions a year later in France.



Most recently, Dowell was named in the England Under-21 squad for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championships in Italy and San Marino.