Former Derby County midfielder Giles Barnes claims he almost re-signed for the Rams

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The Derby academy graduate left for West Bromwich Albion in 2010, and is now at MLS side Orlando City.

Derby’s Giles Barnes looks dejected after he is carried off the pitch on a stretcher

Orlando City midfielder Giles Barnes has revealed that he very nearly re-signed for the club that gave him his first professional contract, Derby County, as recently as 2015, as reported by the Derby Telegraph.

The 28-year-old midfielder came through the academy at the Rams and burst onto the scene in the 2005/06 season, and was incredibly influential in the 2006/07 season which saw Derby promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs.

Derby County celebrate promotion

However, after Derby were relegated immediately as the worst team in Premier League history – accumulating just 11 points over 38 games – Barnes was loaned out to Premier League Fulham, before switching permanently to West Bromwich Albion.

After West Brom, Barnes first went to Doncaster Rovers and then to the MLS with Houston Dynamo, and revealed that he almost re-signed for the Rams in 2015, and claims he still keeps an eye out for their results and tries to attend their games when he’s back on home soil.

Giles Barnes for Houston Dynamo

“The call came from Derby,” Barnes said, as reported by the Derby Telegraph. “They wanted to bring me in on loan when I had finished the season with Houston Dynamo, the club I was with at the time.

“Everything was in place. I would come back to Derby in October 2015 when the MLS season finished. However, Houston blocked the deal and that was that.

“It was tough leaving Derby. I still love the club and try to watch them as often as I can, when I come home. The lads I played with were such a special bunch. We had great camaraderie and the group was so well-knit together.”

Giles Barnes of Vancouver Whitecaps

That timing means that current Swansea City boss Paul Clement would’ve been in charge of the Rams when that move was sanctioned, with Clement in charge of Derby from the 1st June 2015 to the 8th February 2016.

Barnes moved to Vancouver Whitecaps after Houston Dynamo, but is now a designated player at Orlando City after moving there in February 2017, making him teammates with former AC Milan and Real Madrid superstar Kaka.