Ex-Chelsea, Arsenal Star Ashley Cole Signs Derby County Contract

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Derby County confirmed on Monday they have signed former England international left-back Ashley Cole.

The Rams announced the capture of the ex-Chelsea and Arsenal defender on Twitter:

Cole was a free agent, having left the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2018 after three years with the Major League Soccer outfit.

His previous European club was Roma, where he spent 18 months after leaving Chelsea in 2014.

The move will see Cole link up with his former Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard, who is the manager at Derby. The duo represented the Blues on numerous occasions together:

They also helped the team win many pieces of silverware:

“He’s a fantastic player, a quality left-back, and he also brings great experience to the dressing room,” Lampard said, per the Derby website. “I know him very well from our time together at Chelsea, and with England, and I also know what he can bring to the group and the influence he will have.”

The Derby manager added that Cole is “in good shape” and is ready to “compete for a place in the side like every other player here.”

At 38, the defender’s best years are long behind him, but Lampard clearly feels he can bring some crucial experience to the team as they seek to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Derby sit in sixth place in the Championship, meaning they are on course for a play-off spot. Bristol City are two points back in seventh; looking up the table, the Rams trail Norwich City, who occupy an automatic promotion berth in second spot, by seven points.

Cole has enjoyed numerous successes in his career and at his peak was considered the best left-back in the game by many. If he can force his way into the Derby side on a regular basis and help the team into the top flight, it’d be a tremendous achievement in the twilight of his career.

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