Conor Washington is reportedly poised to leave Derby County this summer as his contract nears its end.
The 32-year-old forward has not featured for the Rams this season and now looks set to depart Pride Park as a free agent.
The Northern Ireland international was brought to the club in July 2023 but has struggled to establish himself under successive managers. Despite Derby securing promotion from League One last season, Washington has not made a single appearance during their Championship campaign.
The Rams confirmed their second-tier survival on the final day of the season, but Washington played no part in that effort.
Washington Edging Towards Derby Exit
Washington’s departure was a possibility as far back as January, when then-manager Paul Warne acknowledged the player might look elsewhere for first-team football. In a candid assessment at the time, Warne told DerbyshireLive:
“I’ve had really honest conversations with Conor and just said, ‘look, you will have to wait for an opportunity’. Come January, if he has had no opportunities… he may want to play elsewhere. He hasn’t said that, but I would say the same, by the way, as a player. If I knew my options were limited, I would want to go play somewhere else. When you get older, you become more impatient.”
Since his arrival, Washington has made 22 appearances for Derby in all competitions, scoring three times. With the club moving in a new direction under John Eustace, his departure now appears inevitable.
Vast Experience Could Attract Suitors
Born in Kent, Washington boasts a well-travelled CV that includes stints with Newport County, Peterborough United, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United, Hearts, Charlton Athletic, and Rotherham United. Prior to his Derby move, he netted six goals in 37 appearances for Rotherham.
Over his senior career, Washington has racked up more than 500 professional appearances and scored 175 goals. He also holds 43 international caps for Northern Ireland, offering considerable experience that could prove valuable to clubs in League One or the Scottish Premiership.
Writer’s View
Washington’s exit has felt inevitable for some time, and Derby’s decision not to use him throughout the season underlines how far he had slipped down the pecking order. While his move last summer made sense on paper, it hasn’t worked out for either party.
Now 32, Washington is at a career stage where minutes matter more than squad roles. His experience, professionalism, and eye for goal could still benefit a number of clubs at League One level or abroad. For Derby, this is another step in trimming the squad to give Eustace the room he needs to build. Expect a busy summer at Pride Park, starting with some exits like this one.
