Sam Szmodics gives his first interview on the decision to return to Derby County on a season long loan from Ipswich Town.
According BBC Derby Sport, it comes with an obligation that the Rams can also buy for a fee in the region of £2.7 million based on appearances.
He spent the second half of the 2025/26 season with Derby, netting three times in 13 appearances, but hopes to find his form from when he was at Blackburn.
Derby County said in a statement they “are delighted to confirm the return of Sam Szmodics on a season-long loan from Ipswich Town.
“The Republic of Ireland international initially joined the Rams on loan in February and went on to establish himself as a key member of the side, scoring three times in 13 Sky Bet Championship appearances.
“Szmodics netted the winner in a 1-0 victory away at Portsmouth in March, while he also got on the scoresheet against Hull City and Sheffield United.
“The 30-year-old will once again link up with Head Coach John Eustace, under whom he enjoyed his most prolific campaign, registering 27 goals en route to clinching the 2023/24 Championship Golden Boot while together at Blackburn Rovers.
“A vastly experienced operator across the Premier League and EFL, Szmodics boasts more than 400 career appearances, scoring on 118 occasions.
“He has also earned 12 international caps for the Republic of Ireland following his debut against Belgium in 2024.
“He becomes Derby’s fourth signing of the summer window so far, joining Bobby Clark, Charlie Taylor and Filip Bilbija in putting pen to paper in DE24.
“Welcome back to Derby, Sam!”
SAM’S INTERVIEW:
Interviewer: Sam, good to see you again. How does it feel to be back at Moore Farm?
Sam: Yeah, it feels great finally. It’s been a long time coming and I knew when I left last season that it’s a place I wanted to return to, so over the moon to finally get it done.
Interviewer: Take us through the last couple of months from your point of view. You score against Sheffield United on the final day of the season. The team feels just short of the playoffs and then what?
Sam: Yeah, it was a tough end to the season actually. It feels so long ago now. But even so, I was delighted to score at Pride Park. It was something I wanted to do. Like I said before, I signed in Jan. I’d never even played there. So to score there for Derby was great. Like you said, we just missed out on the playoffs. But after being here for a couple of months, I knew what the squad and the club was all about and like I said, if I had anywhere to come back to, it was always going to be here. I had a good time with my family, you know, assessed the options and and went back to preseason at Ipswich and back of my mind, I always knew that this was somewhere I wanted to come and as soon as I knew there was interest in something we could sort out, I was I was all open arms to it and and thankfully we got it done.
Interviewer: You only played 13 games for Derby last season in that loan spell. It feels like a lot more. Give us your assessment of your performance for the Rams so far.
Sam: Yeah, so it happened relatively quickly. Um, you know, I wasn’t playing at Ipswich I was injured and there was an opportunity to come and before we knew it on transfer deadline day, I was here and I’d say I joined very unfit because whatever anyone says, training is so different to games and then I came in straight away and was starting and playing games Saturday, Tuesdays and I felt very unfit and it’s a new place to live. It’s a new squad to play with. So finding your feet again and playing again and playing a different style of football. And when I did find my feet and you know that first goal, getting the pressure off your shoulders is always massive for me. And you know to score three goals I was really pleased with actually and I know with a with a fully fit Sam Szmodics and a full preseason under my belt, which I have had at Ipswich, joining here is exciting time for me and I’m ready to to to find that Blackburn form again when I was in the Championship and and I’m not going to say win the golden boot, but score a lot of goals and hopefully we uh we go one step further than we did last year and get promoted to the to the Premier League.
Interviewer: That was going to be my question for you. Do you think there is a lot more of Sam Smodics for Derby fans to see?
Sam: Yeah, absolutely. You know, I’m probably the first to criticise my performance. Um, and when I came on loan, I was, like I said, I hadn’t played games. I hadn’t played games. And people can speak about feed. People can speak about their age. Like, I’m probably fit as I’ve ever been. 30 turning 31 in September. I’m as fit as I’ve ever been, you know, the fitness coach Hodgie’s got all my GPS and all my data and all my numbers and I cover some distance in games. And coming into this preseason, it’s probably the best I’ve ever felt, so I don’t feel like I’ve got a point to prove, but I know what I can do and the manager knows what I can do. I’ve played with a lot of the lads last season and it was just a small glimpse of what I can do and like I said, I feel really at home at this football club, so to be signed here for the time I have, I’m really looking forward to getting going.
Interviewer: You mentioned the manager a couple of times. John Eustace clearly knows how to get the best out of you. Tell me about that relationship. How is he able to tap into the best version of you?
Sam: Yeah, the relationship is really good, which is one of the reasons I wanted to come back, which is probably a lot the boys would say. He’s a great manager, but management is is is class, and I’ve got a real good personal relationship with him that I feel like I can pick the phone up and speak to him whether it’s about football or not, and it was a real pulling point why I wanted to come back and he knows my game. He knows what my strengths are, my weaknesses are and fills me with confidence like he does the other lads and you can see why so many people that have played under him before want to come and play under him again because he gets the best out of the players and ultimately that’s what I want and ultimately that’s what he wants for his Derby team.
Interviewer: I know what a great dressing room it was last season and pretty much everyone is still here or coming back in touch with many of the boys over the summer.
Sam: Yeah, I spoke to quite a few of them because obviously you see the rumors online about coming back and you know it’s such a great group. I felt so welcome when I first come here, and I’m looking forward to it. I’ve seen some of them now already, but I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of the bunch over the weekend hopefully and getting to work. We all know we’ve got an objective and a goal to achieve. But I think when you got that togetherness in the changing room, I think it’s great. Everyone looks out for each other. Everyone wants everyone to do well. And I think it’s a massive starting point.
Here’s the social media reaction as Sam Szmodics gives his first interview on the decision to return to Derby County on loan from Ipswich…
@HeyupitsGav: We didn’t see the best of SS when he arrived last season. If Eustace can get him back to top form we have a proven goalscorer at this level. More attacking options!! Go back 18 months and we wouldn’t have dreamed of getting him which shows the trajectory the club is on 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@wragg_nick: Great stuff happy with this, good deal as well, cant wait to see him at full fitness.
@Steve5473356898: Welcome back Sammy. Hit the ground running, good preparation and preseason and he will get us 10/15 goals. 🐏
@portercarl1: I think Sammie himself would have loved to have scored more goals last season so getting him in now for a full season under the guidance of Eustace again can only be beneficial to derby 🐏 4th one in too following on from Clark Taylor & Bilbija. Ozoh back next 🤔🤞🏼 #COYR 🐏👏🏻
@n_dcfc41406: Great signing. Very happy with this. Adds lots of depth and much needed quality, if Eustace can find his tune we’ve got one of the best attackers in the league 🐏
@Guardthebee: Confident Sammie will make a big contribution with a full season under Eustace. A top player at this level, great to see him back for the playoff push 👊 #dcfc #dcfcfans
@WestSussexRam: Great to have you back, Sam. Here’s to a great season 👊🐑
@georgedcfc18: Great to have you back here Sam, this is your season to shine ✨🐏
@AndyMargett: More to come in before Charlton, investment likely. No excuses this season like last to not hit the ground running. Imperative we get a great start if we want to have a chance to get up to Prem. I didn’t hold out much hope end of last season. Hopeful now #dcfc #dcfcfans
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