Derby County sign former Rangers and Leeds striker

Derby County have signed former Rangers and Leeds United striker Kemar Roofe on a deal until the end of the season.

The 32-year-old has been a free agent since last summer when he was released by the Scottish Premiership side.

Roofe, who earned five international caps for Jamaica in 2021, last featured in English football with Leeds in 2019.

His time with the Yorkshire side ended with a goal against Derby at Pride Park in the first leg of a Championship play-off semi-final tie that the Rams went on to sensationally win on aggregate at Elland Road.

Roofe says becoming the first signing of new Derby boss John Eustace was not something he expected.

“I’m here now and I’m excited to get going,” he told the club website.

Roofe, who had a season in Belgium with Anderlecht between his time at Leeds and Rangers, has not featured in a competitive match for more than nine months.

He was released after four years with Rangers, a club where he won the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup.

The forward says he has worked hard while waiting for an opportunity to restart his career.

“It was down to mental strength, to get through what I needed to get through,” he said.

Roofe joins a Derby side that are in the Championship relegation places and who have managed to score just four goals in a 10-game winless league run dating back to late December.