Erik Pieters, 36, has found a new home in his career after his prior short-term contract at Luton Town expired on 19th January 2025.
He joins Derby County, who are currently in the relegation zone, one point away from safety.
With Derby having injury blows to key men Ben Osborn and Ryan Nyambe, Pieters will cover the absentees.
The contract will mean that the 36-year-old will remain with Derby until the conclusion of the 2024/25 EFL Championship Season.
Erik Pieters’ Career Path
After coming through Utrecht’s Academy in 2006, the Dutchman would go on to make 64 appearances over the next two seasons until interest from PSV Eindhoven would find him moving clubs for €2.5m.
At PSV, he would spend five years growing his ability and gaining interest from a multitude of Premier League clubs and the Netherlands National Team.
He would then go on to represent the Netherlands from 2010 to 2014, making 18 appearances.
Great domestic performances for Eindhoven and impressing on the international stage would see a move to Premier League outfit Stoke City for £3m come to fruition on a four-year contract.
The left back would go on to make 169 Premier League appearances before Stoke’s relegation to the Championship. After half a season in The Championship, a loan move to French side Amiens SC would see the end of his time in The Potteries.
Burnley would snap up the signature of the defender for an undisclosed fee in the Summer of 2019, where he would go on to make 66 more Premier League appearances before being out of contract at the end of the 2021-22 season.
West Bromwich Albion would be his next stop, signing as a Free Agent, making his debut the day after pen was put to paper, and going on to make 61 appearances over two years at West Brom.
Joining Luton Town on a short-term deal would be unsuccessful, and after that contract expired, to keep his fitness levels high, he would be spotted training with Middlesbrough.
Over a career that has spanned 18 years, and making a total of 570 appearances at all levels, County have got a very experienced player on their hands.
What to expect from his play style
Fullbacks tend to want to get involved with the goals, but the former Dutch International has only averaged a goal every 71.25 matches.
Tending to help more with assisting than goal scoring, an assist will come on average every 17.27 games.
As of recent years, these numbers will have been lowered due to being played more as a centre back than a full back.
Being disciplined is also a key part of his game, picking up only two red cards over his career.