EFL Transfer Bulletin #14 – Agyemang’s big leap across the pond, Apter’s big price tag, and Kjerrumgaard’s big... no, he really is

The latest done deals in the EFL, and in focus: Ali Maxwell on the green and amber flags following Derby's biggest signing of the window so far

The EFL Transfer Bulletin is written by Ali Maxwell, George Elek, Huw Davies, Sam Parry, Matt Watts, Craig Bradley and Riley Roberts, with the help of the NTT20 Squad.

43 minutes gone in the first half…

EFL clubs have already made more than 350 signings. It sounds like a lot, until you divide it across the 72 teams. That’s just over five per club. So, how many more are still to come?

By 31 August last year, we’d logged more than 750 signings at NTT20.COM – more than 10 per team. In other words, we’re not even at half-time yet.

Look up at the scoreboard: 43’ gone, and plenty more to come.

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Patrick Agyemang (ST) - [Charlotte - Derby] - Undisclosed, reported £5.8m rising to £7.3m with add ons

Ali Maxwell & Craig Bradley

Big money. And the reviews from our MLS moles are in: “Big. Good movement. Strong. Good feet.” That’s exciting — as is the general trend of physical, mobile centre-forwards making waves.

Not all transfers come with an array of bright green flags, but this one does. Agyemang’s elite physical profile — height, pace, power, mobility — gives him a natural advantage. His rise from Division III college soccer to MLS shows he adapts quickly, and though technically raw, he’s regarded as highly coachable. Under John Eustace and alongside experienced forwards such as Andi Weimann, Carlton Morris and Lars-Jørgen Salvesen, the 24-year-old will have the right conditions for growth at Derby. There’s also potential resale value, making this a sensible long-term play.

Still, like any signing, there are orange flags, especially when the fee represents a considerable chunk of available budget. Scrutiny will follow.

Agyemang arrives injured after a hernia operation and will miss the start of the season. Then comes recovery, then adapting to a new league, and breaking into a competitive team mid-season. It’s a big ask.

With a four-year contract, there’s no rush for him to be a key player immediately. But patience preached isn’t always patience practised. If Derby struggle early and their high-priced striker hasn’t played many minutes, questions will come. Call it Price Tag Pressure.

Availability is also a concern. In his top MLS season, he played ~1,800 minutes. This year, he has logged ~1,200 with a third of the season to go — a similar pace. In the Championship, playing only half of the minutes adds up to ~2,000. It’s a physically brutal league, and many overseas strikers have struggled to adapt.

So here’s the deal: we can’t wait to see him in action. But… until Agyemang is fit, training and contributing, we won’t know how far he has to go to become a consistent starter — and ultimately a star striker — which is what this sort of outlay demands.

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Championship

Rob Apter (RW) - [Blackpool - Charlton] - Undisclosed