Defender re-joins Derby for an undisclosed fee from fellow Sky Bet Championship side.

Defender re-joins Derby for an undisclosed fee from fellow Sky Bet Championship side.

Derby County have moved to re-sign defender Jason Shackell from fellow Sky Bet Championship rivals Burnley - with the £250,000 recently won in the Sky Bet Transfer Fund going towards the signing.

The 31-year-old in-demand centre-back has joined Derby on a three-year contract, with the Rams paying an undisclosed fee to the Lancashire club for his signature.

The Rams won the £250,000 Transfer Fund prize when fan Richard Jones was selected in a random draw at Sky Studios earlier this month.

Jones, who also won a £5,000 prize for himself, said: “As a Derby County fan, I’m absolutely delighted I’ve played my part in helping to bring Jason Shackell to the club - and all just by placing a £1 bet.





“Hopefully he can help our push for promotion.”





Throughout the 2014/15 season, fans who bet with Football League Title Sponsor Sky Bet earned Transfer Fund tokens for every pound they spent, putting them in with a chance of winning the £250,000 Transfer Fund for their club.

26-year-old Jones, from Edinburgh, took his place in the final ten in a draw at the Sky Studios, before he was selected as the winner by Football League Commercial Director Ben Wright live on Sky Sports News HQ on Friday 10th July.

Shackell is no stranger to Derby, after spending an impressive single season with the club during the 2011/12 campaign.

He appeared on 49 occasions in all competitions and was a popular figure amongst supporters, before moving to Turf Moor in July 2012.

However, the Rams have continued their summer recruitment drive ahead of the 2015/16 season by bringing the Burnley captain back to the iPro Stadium.

He is the seventh player to join Derby this summer and follows Darren Bent, Alex Pearce, Scott Carson, Andreas Weimann, Chris Baird and Tom Ince joining the club since the beginning of June.

Head Coach Paul Clement said: “We’re thrilled that Jason Shackell has become our latest acquisition; he is an experienced defender at both Premier League and Championship level.





“I know that the Derby County fans will know all about his qualities already, following his previous spell at the club.





“We feel that we have made a number of exciting signings this summer and this one certainly falls into that category.





“We’re delighted that he has chosen to join us and I look forward to working with him.”

He added: “I’d like to thank Richard Jones for participating in the Sky Bet Transfer Fund and helping the club to sign Jason.”





Shackell said: “I’m delighted to sign for Derby County and I’m really excited about the prospect of working with Paul Clement, his coaching staff and the rest of the players.





“There’s a really strong squad here and I’m happy to be part of it.





“Derby have been at the top end of the division for the last few years and I believe that we can be up there again this season, hopefully making that final step and reaching the Premier League.





“The club has made massive progress in recent times and after hearing the vision and ambition of Mel Morris, Sam Rush and Paul Clement, I couldn’t wait to sign.”





He added: “I know just how big a club Derby is following my previous spell here a few years ago and I’m well aware of the fantastic support that we have.”

Sky Bet Head of Sponsorship Edwin Martin said: “For our winning fan, this signing must be a proud moment.







“Over 100,000 fans up and down the country have been taking part in the Transfer Fund, vying for a chance to help make a difference to their team ahead of next season and for Richard, this has become a reality.”





Shackell is a product of Norwich City's Academy and he made his professional debut for the Canaries as a teenager, against Derby, in April 2003.

He was part of City's promotion-winning side to the Premier League in the 2003/04, and he went on to make 11 appearances in the top flight in the following campaign.

During the next two seasons, Shackell managed to establish himself as a regular in the City defence before sealing a £1 Million move to Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2008.

He returned to Norwich on loan and also spent time at Doncaster Rovers during his time in the West Midlands, before moving to Barnsley at the start of the 2010/11 campaign, where he secured their Player of the Season Award.



He joined Derby in the summer of 2011 and impressed at the heart of the defence during his single season with the club, appearing in every first team fixture and also wearing the captain’s armband.

During his three seasons with Burnley, Shackell made 136 appearances and, as captain, he was an influential figure in their promotion-winning 2013/14 season.



He featured in all 38 of their Premier League fixtures in the 2014/15 season, earning praise for his impressive performances against the very best talent in the English game.

Sky Bet have installed several special markets following the signing of Shackell.





They make him 5/6 to score two or more goals for Derby this season, and 50/1 to score five or more.

The Rams are 12/1 to keep the most clean sheets in the Sky Bet Championship this season with Shackell in the heart of their defence.*





* Odds subject to change.





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