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League One promotion hopefuls Derby County have signed striker Dwight Gayle after getting approval from the English Football League to complete the deal.

The 34-year-old was available as a free agent after leaving Championship side Stoke City earlier in February.

Derby are in need of a forward after leading scorer James Collins was ruled out "for months" with a knee injury.

Former Newcastle, West Brom and Crystal Palace striker Gayle has scored 124 league goals in 350 career games.

He has signed a deal until the end of the season.

Derby's transfer dealings and spending have been monitored by the EFL since the East Midlands club came out of administration in the summer of 2022.

Efforts to sign a striker during the January transfer window failed, with a move for Sheffield Wednesday's Lee Gregory collapsing on transfer deadline day.

Later that day, however, Derby sold Max Bird to Bristol City for an undisclosed fee, with the midfielder immediately loaned back to help the Rams in their quest for promotion back to the Championship.

Derby are second in League One and have won four of their past five matches.