Former Derby County midfielder secures deal as ex-Rams teammate praises impact

Former Derby County midfielder Louie Watson has signed a new contract at Crawley Town as former Rams team-mate Colin Kazim-Richards praised his impact

Watson has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the club after becoming a key part of the team under manager Kazim-Richards.

The former Rams academy graduate played alongside Kazim-Richards at Derby when he made his league debut as a late substitute in 2020 before he left for Luton in 2022.

Now the pair will continue together in League Two with Crawley eager to improve on last season after Kazim-Richards saved them from relegation.

Speaking about the deal, Watson said: “It feels amazing, coming back here is a great feeling, especially after the last game of last season.

"The feeling we left the building with at the end of the game was something special, even though the season itself was not special.

"Now I have got this over the line, it is about setting new goals and really kicking on under the new gaffer.

"I am ready to give it my all for him and for myself, and I am looking forward to the season getting underway.”

Kazim-Richards added: “Louie was a big reason that we were able to execute our style last season and secure survival.

"He gave us something different, and to understand what he went through last season and be able to come back and give us what he did is a credit to his personality.

"He is a player with very good football intelligence and ability, and he is exactly the sort of player that we want in the building.”

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