'I forgot I was good' - Adams on Derby move impact
Ebou Adams made 17 appearances during his loan stint with Derby last season
- Published
Midfielder Ebou Adams says he "forgot" that he was "good at football" before joining Derby County on loan last season.
The Gambia international missed the entire 2022-23 season because of injuries and had managed to play just 13 games for Cardiff City in 18 months when he made the move to Pride Park last season.
At Derby, the 28-year-old quickly established himself as a key figure in Paul Warne's side as they went on to seal automatic promotion to the Championship - where Adams will rejoin the Rams after signing a permanent deal on Wednesday.
"I'm grateful to the gaffer for bringing me in," Adams said, as he reflected on his initial loan move to Derby.
"I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed playing football."
- Published17 July
- Published15 July
Adams joined Cardiff from Forest Green in May 2022 when the Bluebirds were managed by Steve Morison.
A tendon tear and knee injury sidelined him for 12 months, and three changes of management in that time left him struggling to hold down a spot in Cardiff's squad when he did return to fitness last season.
By the time he left Wales on loan for a Derby County side battling to end a two-year stay in League One, Adams admits he was struggling with everyday elements of his profession.
"I remember the first game at Charlton, I woke up that day and I鈥檇 forgotten how to prepare for a game because it had been a year-and-a-half of me forgetting how to prepare for a game normally," he said in an interview with 大象传媒 Radio Derby while on the Rams' pre-season training camp in Spain.
"It just came as a shock to me. Honestly, I don't know how I got through the day. It was crazy.
"Then I started to play more regularly and I realised that 'oh my gosh, I forgot that I was good at football'."
His talent and impact certainly was not lost on Derby fans, with supporters in their thousands serenading him with chants of "sign him up" after the Rams sealed promotion with a final-day win against Carlisle.
"That day was beautiful," he said.
"To get that love from the crowd, the fans, and not just them but the staff and players, showed that maybe this is where I should be."