Chelsea Academy star joins Frank Lampard and Jody Morris at Derby County

Mason Mount, one of the crown jewels of the Chelsea academy, has signed for Derby County on a season-long loan, thus becoming their first signing of the summer.

After a stellar season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, Mount was expected to make an appreciable step up in quality of league for his second professional loan spell. He was rumoured to have traveled to Germany and discussed the possibility of moving to Werder Bremen on a two-year loan but the lure of playing under Frank Lampard and Jody Morris ultimately prevailed.

In his first interview as a Derby player, Mount elucidated his decision to join the Rams over other interested clubs and expressed his excitement about working under Frank Lampard, one of his role models.

“There were a couple of clubs (interested) but what brought me to Derby was how big the club is. It has a great following. The club is huge and I want to take them into the Premier League because that’s where they belong.

I have a great relationship (with Lampard and Morris). Being at Chelsea, and a midfielder, I’ve looked up to Frank Lampard throughout my life so he’s been a big role model for me. I’ve worked with Jody before, he’s been a great player for the club as well. I’m really looking forward to working with them.

It was a big pull (to have Lampard and Morris at the club) but I think the club overall is a massive pull. There’s a massive following to every game, so both put together was a big pull.”

- Mason Mount; source: Rams TV

Hopefully the duo of Chelsea past and future can steer Derby to a promotion this season. Good luck Mason, we’ll be watching!