Football General Manager
- Transfer valued at around $8 million, plus add-ons, represents record fee for Charlotte FC
- Agyemang scored 22 goals in 72 matches for Charlotte
- Striker netted two goals during USMNT’s runner-up finish at 2025 Gold Cup
In his first interview since completing his transfer to Derby County, Patrick Agyemang explained his motivation for joining the English Championship side. The 24-year-old striker signed a four-year contract at Pride Park and joined for a $8 million transfer fee, plus add-ons, a record for his former club Charlotte FC. The striker expressed his eagerness to test himself in English football after establishing himself in MLS.
“Yeah, it’s exciting,” Agyemang told Derby County’s official YouTube channel. “Definitely been hearing good things about the club, the fans as well, and I always wanted to be a part of something special. Now that to finally be here, it’s amazing.
“For me, I always wanted to take that next step into be in a position to help myself better my career and I think this step of, you know, going into the Championship and being around such passionate fans and a great group of guys is something I felt is needed for my step and I’m just excited for it.”
The forward also opened up about how he heard about the interest from Derby County and revealed that he was hoping the move would go through towards the end of the discussions.
“I think I heard about it [the interest from Derby] around once I was getting into the national team for the Gold Cup and obviously in the moment, you’re like ‘Ok that’s something you’re interested in’,” Agyemang explained. “But you want to just focus on what you’re doing, but as it starts to progress, you look more into it and you’re like ‘this is a project I’d love to be a part of’. You just want to hope for it to get across the line at that point, and happily it did.”
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The 24-year-old started every game for the USMNT at the 2025 Gold Cup, scoring two goals as Mauricio Pochettino’s side reached the final, losing 2-1 to Mexico. Agyemang opened up on how big the tournament was for him and what it felt like playing for his national side consistently. He also touched on the 2026 World Cup and whether that was in his mind when signing for Derby.
READ MORE: Tim Howard says Agyemang earned WC spot
“Yeah it was very big,” Agyemang added. “Obviously we wished to win it all, but to represent the country and to fight for the nation was a great feeling. And it was difficult, because I’ve never been in a tournament like that, and you see how intense it can be, and now you just want to continue being in positions like that to be able to help. So yeah, it was a great feeling.
“You think about it, the World Cup, but for me, either way, I thought this was the best decision for me. So I’m just hopeful that it goes well.”
After scoring 18 goals in MLS regular season play and quickly establishing himself as a key figure for the USMNT with five international goals in 2025, Agyemang’s move demonstrates how the development pathway from MLS to Europe has become more accessible.
Agyemang will undergo surgery for a hernia injury that has been managed without surgical intervention during the MLS season, meaning he is likely to miss the opening games of Derby County’s 2025-26 Championship campaign.
