BBC Radio Derby's Ed Dawes says a fond farewell to Ebou Adams as he departs Pride Park to join fellow Championship side Portsmouth.
When little-known Ebou Adams signed for Paul Warne in January 2023, the Rams were there or thereabouts in the League One play-off places.
There was pressure to go up in their second season in the third tier, and Derby were heading into the home straight needing to stick their necks out.
Adams arrived from Cardiff City on loan for the rest of the campaign. It is widely acknowledged by supporters and pundits alike that, without his introduction, a second-place finish might not have been achieved.
Adams immediately became a fan favourite. His high intensity and role as a disruptor, in a midfield that already had the passing of Max Bird and the experience of Conor Hourihane, offered balance.
Fans loved his energy and his personality. He played football with a smile on his face, and you could tell he had taken the Rams to his heart.
Derby lost only three further matches that season, finishing second and returning to the Championship. Ebou was a hero.
When supporters invaded the pitch after the Rams' 2–0 win over Carlisle at Pride Park - the game that secured promotion - Adams was nowhere to be seen. But as the smoke cleared and the tears were wiped away, there he was: on the shoulders of the adoring masses, his name being chanted loudly. Ebou smiled wildly, his teeth beaming across the stadium as supporters chanted, 'Sign him up'.
Adams was signed the following summer. Despite no real focus on him being captain from his head coach, Adams led from the front, still playing the game with his heart on his sleeve and a smile as wide as the River Derwent.
I interviewed Adams on many occasions. He is a gentle and honest soul. If a Rams performance was not up to scratch, he would come on the radio and apologise to the fans. He would not hide away; he would front up and represent.
He once spent an hour with me at Moor Farm as I presented an afternoon show on BBC Radio Derby during a day of behind-the-scenes access. He spoke passionately about being Muslim, playing football during Ramadan, and how important his family is to him - how supportive his wife has been of his career, and how starting a family in Derby was a dream come true.
He leaves Derby County in a far better position than the one he found. He achieved promotion from League One: a job needed and a job done.
As the Rams continue to evolve on and off the field, Adams can hold his head high as a captain and as a man who was key at the club's time of need.
Thank you, Ebou, and good luck.
Category: General Sports
