Derby County have signed Fulham defender Dean Leacock for a fee of £375,000.
Leacock has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Pride Park after his proposed move to Swansea City fell through acrimoniously. Swansea had announced the 22 year-old as their club record signing last month but the deal collapsed amid recriminations affecting the player and both clubs.
Leacock becomes Rams boss Billy Davies’ fourth summer signing after the arrivals of Ryan Smith, Steve Howard and Matt Oakley. Derby managing director Mike Horton told the club’s website: “Dean’s a good player and at the right age to bridge the gap between our more experienced defenders and youngsters like Lewin Nyatanga.”
Comfortable either as a centre back or right back, Leacock made seven first-team appearances for Fulham last term after coming through the club’s academy set-up. He had two successful loan spells with Coventry City and opted to leave Craven Cottage on a permanent basis after Chris Coleman significantly strengthened the Fulham defence.
