Nick Blackman has signed for Maccabi Tel Aviv from Derby County, the Israel club have confirmed.
The former Reading striker spent the best part of the 2017-18 campaign on loan at Tel Aviv. He enjoyed arguably his best full season of his career in Israel, netting 10 goals in 31 games.
At Derby, it just hasn’t worked out for Blackman. He has proven to be an expensive gamble, and a permanent exit from Pride Park has long been on the cards.
Derby fans have commented on social media site Twitter upon hearing the news. Some have wished Blackman luck on his move, while others are happy to see him gone.
Confirmed : Nick Blackman left the club.
He moved to Maccabi tel aviv fc.https://t.co/9KePKxEcEuמכבי-הגיעה-לסיכום-על-חזרתו-של-ניק-בלקמן/#dcfc #dcfcfans pic.twitter.com/oXx0dlJF1Z— Lee CH / The Korean Ram (@ChanYoungLee03) July 14, 2019
Wage bill lowered! 👍
— Derbyrams (@Pat00758889Pat) July 14, 2019
Brilliant news, he was one of the worst players I’ve ever seen, hope we get a few more duds out the door too.
— Barnaby & Chris (@AmbroseBarnaby) July 14, 2019
for the Israeli league he is pretty decent player.
— Michael Levit (@michahell12) July 14, 2019
I thought he was a great player but just wasn’t for us
— archaeofarmer (@GeorgeLomas81) July 14, 2019
So Bradley Johnson & Nick Blackman signed new contracts to then leave the club on free transfers anyway? 🤷♂️ #dcfc #dcfcfans #ffp
— Ben Lavender (@lavenderben) July 14, 2019
Accounting manoeuvre. Kieran Maguire patiently explains it to me about once per month! Still makes my head hurt. Best part of £10m down the toilet 🙈
— Derby County Clog (@derbycountyblog) July 14, 2019
3 million on a player who didn’t even score…good riddance, don’t know what’s worse 3 million on him or 10 million combined on Johnson and Butterfield🤭🤭
— Barnaby & Chris (@AmbroseBarnaby) July 14, 2019
What went wrong for Nick Blackman at Derby County?
Derby signed Nick Blackman from Reading in January 2016. The Guardian claim the Rams paid £2.5 million for his signature as he penned a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Blackman arrived at Pride Park as one of the Championship’s leading scorers. He netted an impressive 11 goals in 25 games for Reading in the early stages of the 2015-16 season.
At Derby, however, he struggled to replicate that form as he joined the Rams at arguably the worst possible time. Then manager Paul Clement was dismissed within a month of Blackman’s arrival. His next permanent manager, Nigel Pearson, didn’t last much longer, featuring for just nine games.
It was an uphill task for Blackman. He was often played out of position on the wing, and his confidence was drained. Just one goal in 23 Championship games over 18 months illustrated his struggles.

(Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images).
Blackman spent the previous two campaigns farmed out on loan. Despite signing a one-year extension to his contract, a permanent exit seemed a foregone conclusion this summer.