Of all the signings Paul Warne made in the summer, one has really impressed since joining Derby County, and he may still win an award based on his performances for his previous club, too.
With Derby County climbing back into the Championship this season, it was only natural that Paul Warne was going to shake up his squad.
With plenty of players moving on, and 12 new faces arriving, this is a period of upheaval for the Rams, but they have settled into life in the second tier fairly well so far.
Of all the things Paul Warne has got right this season, though, one player has proven beyond doubt that signing him was the correct call.
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Jacob Widell Zetterstrom up for big award in Sweden
His performances on the pitch are all the proof Derby fans would need, but Jacob Widell Zetterstrom has now picked up a nomination for a big award in his native Sweden that shows just what a quality player the Rams have picked up.
As per a report from Svensk Elitfotboll, Zetterstrom’s displays for his former club, Djurgardens IF, have earned him a nomination for the Swedish League awards for Goalkeeper of the Year in 2024.
The awards will be handed out on November 20, 2024, with Zetterstrom facing competition from Warner Hahn, of Hammarby, and Johan Dahlin, of Malmö FF for the honour of being named Allsvenskan’s top goalkeeper.
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Paul Warne took a gamble on Jacob Widell Zetterstrom
With Joe Wildsmith leaving the club this summer, there was a big hole to fill, and Warne had to find the right man to step in between the sticks and be Derby’s new number one goalkeeper.
Signing a player from the Swedish leagues, with all due respect, is always going to be a risk, as it is a considerably lower standard of football over there.
| Statistic | Jacob Widell Zetterstrom 2024/25 (all competitions) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 14 |
| Minutes played | 1,290 |
| Goals conceded | 15 |
| Clean sheets | 4 |
| Save % | 73.6 |
| Pass completion % | 60.7 |
Naturally, Zetterstrom will have been scouted out in great detail ahead of his move to Pride Park, but even then, it has probably come as a bit of a surprise just how well he has settled in to life in English football.
The 26-year-old has been a great addition to the Derby backline, and is a key reason Warne’s side have been so solid in defence this season.
Derby’s goalkeeper has already earned big praise from his compatriot, Jonas Olsson, who claimed Zetterstrom can go all the way to the Premier League one day thanks to his impressive decision-making.