Former Derby County winger signs for Newcastle United hero as club confirms transfer
Latest Derby County news from DerbyshireLive brings you news of a former player on the move as he seals return to one of his former clubs
Former Derby County winger Michael Jacobs has signed for Northampton Town for a second time.
Jacobs was a free agent after being released by Chesterfield, but the Cobblers have wasted no time in snapping him up ahead of the new season.
He has signed a one-year deal with the Cobblers and becomes their fifth summer signing following Jack Perkins, Jack Burroughs, Kamarai Swyer and goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons.
Former Newcastle United hero and Cobblers boss Kevin Nolan said: “We can’t wait for Michael to join us.
“We think he can be very good for us, not only in his own right but as a player who the other lads in the squad can learn from and we certainly feel they will benefit from his presence and his experience.
“He knows the club and a number of the staff know Michael well and we feel he is a good fit for us.
“We are looking for a balance and a blend within the squad and we are delighted to welcome Michael back to Sixfields.”
Jacobs actually began his career at Northampton and made 100 appearances before signing for Derby for an undisclosed compensation fee because he was under 24.
Former Rams boss Nigel Clough said at the time: “We’re delighted to secure Michael’s signature.
“He is a player we identified some time ago as someone who would be a very good addition to our squad.”
Jacobs would go on to make 47 appearances for the Rams before moving to Wolves and then Wigan where he made the biggest impression.
Jacobs has been a member of four promotion-winning teams during his career, three of them from League One with Wigan twice and once with Wolves.
David Clowes’ long-term ambition for Derby County is to eventually challenge for a place in the Premier League, and that plan remains on course.
The next item to tick off the to-do list is to be an established team in the Championship having survived their first season back in the second tier owed to the work of John Eustace.
Ever since he was handed the keys to the manager’s office following Paul Warne’s departure, Derby’s head coach has openly admitted that his desire is to take them back to the promised land.
Derby’s last experience of the top flight was the infamous 2007-08 season when they fell through the trapdoor having been regarded as the worst team to ever sit at English football’s top table.
