Derby County close in on loan deal for Burnley winger Jaydon Banel
Derby County are reportedly on the verge of completing a loan agreement with Burnley for winger Jaydon Banel, with the 21-year-old expected to spend the remainder of the season at Pride Park.
The move comes just days after the Rams allowed one of their few natural wide players, Corey Blackett-Taylor, to leave on a temporary basis to join Bolton Wanderers. That decision has intensified the club’s need to strengthen in attacking wide areas, and Banel now appears set to arrive as part of a late push to address that issue before the transfer window shuts.
Alongside this development, Derby have also been linked with Ipswich Town forward Sammie Szmodics, as reported by Mike McGrath. Together, these links underline a clear intention from the club to add more creativity, pace, and a consistent goal threat in the final third as they look to improve their attacking output.
Banel set for season-long loan at Pride Park
According to Dutch outlet Soccernews, Banel will join Derby on loan until the end of the 2025/26 campaign. The winger only arrived at Burnley on deadline day last year, having chosen to leave Ajax after progressing through the club’s renowned academy system and reportedly rejecting a contract extension in Amsterdam.
Despite the promise he showed in the Netherlands, Banel has struggled for opportunities since moving to Lancashire, making just five senior appearances for the Clarets. Derby’s interest, however, dates back to his Ajax days, and the Rams are said to have beaten competition from other Championship sides as well as clubs in Spain, Germany, and Belgium to secure his signature.
This season, Banel has featured four times across all competitions, including a brief 28-minute cameo against John Eustace’s Derby side in the Carabao Cup. Burnley are understood to be keen for the winger to return once the loan spell concludes and have therefore ruled out any option to buy. With Capology estimating his wages at around £7,500 per week last season, the deal also represents a relatively low financial risk for Derby.
A potential solution to Derby’s wide-area concerns
Banel’s arrival could help ease the impact of Blackett-Taylor’s departure, offering the Rams pace, directness, and attacking intent from wide positions. During his time with Jong Ajax, the winger registered an impressive 18 goals in 85 appearances, highlighting his ability to contribute at the attacking end.
With the February 2 deadline approaching, it has become increasingly clear that Derby need reinforcements out wide. Bringing in a player of Banel’s profile could help address that imbalance and give Eustace more tactical flexibility.
Despite Ben Brereton Díaz recording two goals and two assists in his last five outings, he still divides opinion among sections of the Pride Park support. Kayden Jackson, meanwhile, appeared more likely to leave the club than Blackett-Taylor after being linked with Wycombe Wanderers. In the Rams’ most recent league clash against West Bromwich Albion, Rhian Brewster was deployed on the left flank and, although he completed more dribbles than any other player on the pitch, his overall performance failed to convince some fans.
Ultimately, the addition of Jaydon Banel would give Eustace more options when shaping his attacking setup and could influence both team selection and style of play. It is a move that not only makes sense from a squad-balance perspective but also has the potential to inject fresh excitement among supporters as the season progresses.
