Eiran Cashin has penned a heartfelt message to teammate Louie Sibley after seeing his departure from Derby County confirmed.
Derby confirmed on Tuesday that Louie Sibley had decided against signing a new contract, bringing an end to his 14-year association with the club.
It was a surprise to many supporters to see Sibley leave as last term he played an instrumental role in helping the Rams achieve promotion, playing in 44 matches across all competitions.
The 22-year-old was shoehorned into a left wing-back role by Paul Warne and he flourished in that position, producing six goals and adding four assists.
A versatile yet talented player, Sibley’s departure leaves a void that needs filling as his ability to play across multiple positions was sought-after.
The Englishman was an important member of Warne’s squad and the dressing room as a whole, with teammate Eiran Cashin penning a heartfelt message following this news.
READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest
Eiran Cashin pens heartfelt message to Louie Sibley
Cashin is undoubtedly the player affected most by Sibley leaving.
The pair joined Derby at a similar period, beginning their development with the Rams from under-eights before working their way up the underage groups.
That eventually led to first-team football, with Sibley making his full Championship debut for the club in March 2020 against Blackburn Rovers whilst Cashin’s first appearance came in December 2021, coming off the bench against Blackpool.
The pair shared some unbelievable times – including the moment Derby under-18s were crowned National Champions in 2019 with a 5-2 victory against Arsenal, a side featuring Bukayo Saka.
All good things must come to an end, though, and luckily, Sibley ended his time at Pride Park by sealing his first promotion and Cashin has now sent his friend a heartwarming message.
Derby County must line up a replacement for Louie Sibley
Sibley previously attracted interest from League One outfit Rotherham and now he’s officially left Derby, the 22-year-old will no doubt be wanted by several other clubs.
Operating predominantly as a left wing-back last term, Warne must now replace him. The club did plan on keeping the academy graduate and saw him as their starting left-back next term however, his departure calls for an upgrade.
Derby currently have veteran Craig Forsyth, whose contract expires next summer, and Callum Elder as their two options for that role, while Cashin can also fill in there if needed.
Forsyth and Elder are by no means poor options to take into the Championship, though a long-term replacement for Sibley is needed and there are plenty available.
Warne could look at Crewe’s Rio Adebisi, or Peterborough United’s Harrison Burrows to join their fight for Championship survival in 2024/25.