Ashley Cole joins Frank Lampard’s Derby County

Ashley Cole has completed the unlikely transfer of joining Championship outfit Derby County, at the age 38.

He joins on a deal until the end of the season and is joining up with his former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard whose now manager of the Rams.

At the age of 38 many would have expected the Englishman to be joining the coaching staff, but Cole is not done yet.

The 384 capped Premier League defender has featured for both Arsenal and Chelsea while having stints at Roma and most recently was playing in the MLS with LA Galaxy until earlier this month when he was released by the American side.

Cole played 32 games last season and was captain of the Los Angles-based side but has decided to swap the glamour for a promotion battle.

Speaking to RamsTV the former England international said:

“For me, it was a no brainer, I have kept in touch with Lampard, he’s been telling me how good the team has been playing and I’ve followed the club since he got here.”

“It’s going to be a challenge, I’ve not played in England for five years now so coming from the MLS and America that has a different culture, and then coming here I know it’s cold and it rains, it’s going to be difficult conditions, there are strong players, good players it’s a tough league. Again, I am going out of my comfort zone.”

The left-back hopes to aid the Lampard’s side into the playoffs and help the club gain promotion for the first time since the 2006-2007 season.

His first match will could be this weekend when Derby travel away to League One side Accrington Stanley. County currently sit sixth in the league after their 2-1 win at home to Reading last Saturday.