Derby County blasted over unpaid £2.5m transfer amid ongoing financial worries

Derby County sanctioned the departure of Kamil Jozwiak earlier this month.

The Polish winger was allowed to leave Pride Park, and headed for the United States after MLS side Charlotte agreed a deal worth around £2million.

It was seen as a vital boost to the Rams' coffers given their worrying financial situation. But a fresh report now claims that Derby still actually owe a seven-figure fee to the club they originally purchased Jozwiak from.

The Athletic state that Derby agreed a £3.4m fee with Polish side Lech Poznan back in September 2020, but that only 25 per cent of that had been paid by the time the East Midlands club went into administration in September 2021.

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That leaves a hefty chunk - roughly £2.5m - still unpaid.

It is claimed that Derby's administrators Quantuma contacted Poznan in January to ask them if they would agree to defer the next instalment of Jozwiak's fee, which was due in mid-February.

The Polish side are said to have rejected the request but say they have not received any further communication from Derby or the administrators.

Lech Poznan president Piotr Rutkowski told The Athletic: "They've sold a player but they haven't paid for him.

"How is that fair? How is that ethical? And what's really frustrating is we have no protection from the authorities — FIFA's enforcement proceedings are frozen while Derby are in an insolvency process and the English Football League is not supporting us. If we were an English club, it would be different."

County have attracted all sorts of headlines for their off-field dramas this season.

As well as entering administration, the club have received two separate points deductions, been hit with a transfer embargo and have seen numerous takeovers fall through.

Recent weeks had seen positive murmurs coming out of the club in the hope that a new buyer could be found, but the saga continues to rumble on.

Manager Wayne Rooney said of Jozwiak's departure: "Of course I wanted him to stay, wanted him to be a part of it. He's an important player to us come the end of the season when he will be back fit.

"I felt he could really give us a lot, but the administrators have stated they need the money, so we have had to sell him.

"That's where we are at, there is nothing I can do on that. At the end of the day the club's existence, certainly in the short term, is more important.

"Kamil was one of the very few players who was contracted for next season, so that is a player less for next season which makes it again more difficult."

On the pitch, Derby's form has regressed in recent weeks and Rooney's side have lost five of their last six games as they bid to retain their Championship status.

They have just eight games remaining and are six points adrift of safety.

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