Smith & Oakley join Derby

After days of waiting, Ryan Smith today put pen to paper on a 3 year deal at Pride Park – and was immediately followed by former Southampton man Matt Oakley.

Smith, 19, has arrived from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee and goes straight into the squad for Sunday’s curtain raiser against Southampton – as does the 28 year old Oakley, who left the Saints in the summer and is relishing the challenge of helping the Rams’ charge for the Premiership.

Derby boss Billy Davies immediately put Oakley’s name forward as a potential captain of the side.