Derby County have opened talks with Lincoln City captain Paudie O’Connor ahead of a potential summer move.
The centre-back is available on a free transfer when his contract expires later this month, and the Rams are eager to bolster their defence ahead of a return to the Championship. While there has been a belief that we might be able to retain his services, interest from Pride Park seemingly torpedoes those slender hopes.
DerbyshireLive reports that Rams are holding discussions with Paudie, who has spent the past three seasons with the Imps and worn the captain’s armband under several managers. With his current deal due to expire, O’Connor is permitted to talk to other clubs—and it seems the Rams are now pushing hard to get a deal over the line.
The 27-year-old has made 141 appearances for us since arriving from Bradford City in the summer of 2022. He featured 45 times in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign and remained a consistent and composed presence at the heart of the Imps’ defence throughout. Last season, he missed a clutch of games through suspension, having three separate spells out because of ill-discipline, but was still a shout for Player of the Season.
It’s believed we have offered Paudie fresh terms, but with Derby now entering the race, the Republic of Ireland youth international has a decision to make. It’s believed Barnsley had moved ahead of Huddersfield Town in the hunt for O’Connor, until the Rams entered the fray. A chance to prove himself in the second tier is sure to be more of a lure than a big payday with a League One hopeful.
Derby’s interest comes amid a summer rebuild at Pride Park, where head coach John Eustace is looking to add both experience and leadership to his squad. With Nat Phillips having returned to Liverpool following a loan spell and Curtis Nelson recovering from injury, defensive reinforcements have become a priority.
Paudie, who began his career at Limerick before moving to Leeds United, has Championship pedigree despite failing to make a senior breakthrough at Elland Road. After a solid spell with Bradford City, he has grown into one of the most respected defenders in League One, both for his aerial prowess and his ability to read the game.
Reports earlier this month linked Wycombe Wanderers and Barnsley with interest, while Huddersfield Town have also been monitoring the situation. However, Derby’s status and ambition may yet prove decisive.
If Derby do succeed in luring Paudie to Pride Park, it would represent a decent signing for them. The defender has been a rock for us over the past three seasons, consistently leading by example and contributing to one of the more resilient backlines in League One. Plymouth allegedly had a £250,000 bid turned down in the winter window, although the true value of that bid has been debated.
A strong communicator, organiser and dependable figure, O’Connor fits the mould of a John Eustace centre-back perfectly. While nothing is finalised yet, this is a transfer link that makes sense on both sides and few Imps supporters would deny a solid servant of the club a chance to better himself in the Championship, rather than grasping a payday with one of the Yorkshire basket case clubs desperately trying to earn promotion before the independent regulator enters the scene.
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