Efe Ambrose delighted to sign with Derby County

Nigerian defender Efe Ambrose says he is delighted to have joined English Championship side Derby County.

Ambrose ended his free agency by signing a shortterm contract with the Rams which runs until the end of the season. The defender left Scottish club Hibernian in the January transfer window.

The 30-year-old, who was part of Nigeria’s squad which won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, will provide more options in defence for the promotion-chasing club, who sit seventh on the second-tier league table.

“Sometimes you never know where football will take you but for me, it’s a dream to play down in England so getting the opportunity to play here is amazing,” Ambrose said in his first interview with Rams TV.

“I know what it means to be in the top six and what it means to get a ticket to the Premier League.

“I know the ambition what [manager] Frank Lampard wants for this club so for me, that is a motivation.

“We are aiming for the top two places to get the automatic ticket so once you put that in your head then it’s a challenge and it’s not impossible. In the Championship, everyone is equal to everyone.”

Ambrose’s move to the club is subject to international clearance. Lampard has confirmed that the Nigeria will not be considered for Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Brighton & Hove Albion.